Broadcast signal transmission device, broadcast signal reception device, broadcast signal transmission method and broadcast signal reception method

ABSTRACT

A broadcast signal transmission method includes encoding service data of a service and service layer signaling information that are delivered over a Real-Time Object Delivery over Unidirectional Transport (ROUTE) session, wherein the service layer signaling information includes Layered Coding Transport (LCT) channel information and Media Presentation Description (MPD) information for the service; encoding signaling information for one or more services including the service, wherein the signaling information includes one or more service element entries corresponding to the one or more services, wherein a service element entry corresponding to the service includes service information related to the service, and wherein the service information includes service identification information for identifying the service, first version information for indicating a change of the service information, channel information of the service and address information of the ROUTE session; and transmitting the encoded service data, the encoded service layer signaling information and the encoded signaling information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/327,578, filed on Jan. 19, 2017, which was filed as the National Phase of PCT International Application No. PCT/KR2015/009305, filed on Sep. 3, 2015, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/045,521, filed on Sep. 3, 2014 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/046,121, filed on Sep. 4, 2014, all of these applications are hereby expressly incorporated by reference into the present application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a broadcast signal transmitting device, a broadcast signal receiving device, and a broadcast transceiving method.

Description of the Related Art

As analog broadcast signal transmission is terminated, various technologies for transmitting and receiving a digital broadcast signal have been developed. A digital broadcast signal is capable of containing a larger amount of video/audio data than an analog broadcast signal and further containing various types of additional data as well as video/audio data.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A digital broadcast system may provide a high definition (HD) image, multi-channel audio, and various additional services. However, for digital broadcast, network flexibility obtained by considering data transmission efficiency for a large amount of data transmission, robustness of a transceiving network, and a mobile receiving apparatus needs to be enhanced.

One object of the present invention can be achieved by providing a method for transmitting a broadcast signal, the method including encoding media data into a media stream, generating signaling information for signaling the media stream, multiplexing the encoded media stream and the signaling information, and transmitting a broadcast signal containing the multiplexed media stream and signaling information.

Preferably, the signaling information may include information for rapid service scan and acquisition.

Preferably, the information for rapid service scan and acquisition may be transmitted through a physical layer pipe separate from the media stream.

Preferably, the information for rapid service scan and acquisition may signal a location of transmission of service layer signaling.

Preferably, the location of transmission of the service layer signaling may be transmitted may be signaled through an IP address and a port number.

Preferably, the service layer signaling may include a signaling message header, the signaling message header including at least one of a payload format or expiration information.

Preferably, the signaling information may include physical layer signaling, signaling for rapid service scan and acquisition, and service layer signaling, wherein the physical layer signaling signals whether the signaling for rapid service scan and acquisition may be parsed, the signaling for rapid service scan and acquisition may signal a location of the service layer signaling, and the service layer signaling may signal a location of the media stream.

In another aspect of the present invention, provided herein is a broadcast signal transmission device including an encoder configured to encode media data into a media stream, a signaling generator configured to generate signaling information for signaling the media stream, a multiplexing unit configured to multiplex the encoded media stream and signaling information, and a transmitter configured to transmit a broadcast signal containing the multiplexed media stream and signaling information.

Preferably, the signaling information may include information for rapid service scan and acquisition.

Preferably, the information for rapid service scan and acquisition may be transmitted through a physical layer pipe separate from the media stream.

Preferably, the information for rapid service scan and acquisition may signal a location of transmission of service layer signaling.

Preferably, the location of transmission of the service layer signaling may be transmitted may be signaled through an IP address and a port number.

Preferably, the service layer signaling may include a signaling message header, the signaling message header including at least one of a payload format or expiration information.

Preferably, the signaling information may include physical layer signaling, signaling for rapid service scan and acquisition, and service layer signaling, wherein the physical layer signaling signals whether the signaling for rapid service scan and acquisition is parsed, the signaling for rapid service scan and acquisition may signal a location of the service layer signaling, and the service layer signaling may signal a location of the media stream.

In another aspect of the present invention, provided herein is a method for transmitting a broadcast signal, the method including receiving a broadcast signal, the broadcast signal containing a multiplexed media stream and signaling information for signaling the media stream, demultiplexing the broadcast signal and acquiring the signaling information, and acquiring the media stream using the signaling information.

Preferably, the signaling information may include physical layer signaling, signaling for rapid service scan and acquisition, and service layer signaling, wherein the physical layer signaling may signal whether the signaling for rapid service scan and acquisition is parsed, the signaling for rapid service scan and acquisition may signal a location of the service layer signaling, and the service layer signaling may signal a location of the media stream.

In another aspect of the present invention, provided herein is a broadcast signal reception device including a receiver configured to receive a broadcast signal, the broadcast signal containing a multiplexed media stream and signaling information for signaling the media stream, a demultiplexing unit configured to demultiplex the broadcast signal to acquire the signaling information, and a processor configured to acquire the media stream using the signaling information.

Preferably, the signaling information may include physical layer signaling, signaling for rapid service scan and acquisition, and service layer signaling, wherein the physical layer signaling may signal whether the signaling for rapid service scan and acquisition is parsed, the signaling for rapid service scan and acquisition may signal a location of the service layer signaling, and the service layer signaling may signal a location of the media stream.

As is apparent from the above description, the embodiments of the present invention can process data according to service characteristics to control QoS (Quality of Service) for each service or service component, thereby providing various broadcast services.

The embodiments of the present invention can achieve transmission flexibility by transmitting various broadcast services through the same radio frequency (RF) signal bandwidth.

The embodiments of the present invention can improve data transmission efficiency and increase robustness of transmission/reception (Tx/Rx) of broadcast signals using a MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) system.

The embodiments of the present invention can provide a method and apparatus, which are configured to receive digital broadcast signals without errors even with mobile reception equipment or in an indoor environment, for transmitting and receiving broadcast signals.

According to the present invention, rapid service scan and service acquisition may be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a structure of an apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals for future broadcast services according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an input formatting block according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an input formatting block according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a BICM block according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a BICM block according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a frame building block according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates an OFDM generation block according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a structure of an apparatus for receiving broadcast signals for future broadcast services according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates a frame structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates a signaling hierarchy structure of the frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates preamble signaling data according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates PLS1 data according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates PLS2 data according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 illustrates PLS2 data according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 illustrates a logical structure of a frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 illustrates PLS mapping according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 illustrates EAC mapping according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 illustrates FIC mapping according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 illustrates an FEC structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 illustrates a time interleaving according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 illustrates the basic operation of a twisted row-column block interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 illustrates an operation of a twisted row-column block interleaver according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 illustrates a diagonal-wise reading pattern of a twisted row-column block interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 illustrates interleaved XFECBLOCKs from each interleaving array according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 illustrates signaling for single-memory deinterleaving irrespective of the number of symbols in a frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 illustrates FI schemes of FSS in signaling for single-memory deinterleaving irrespective of the number of symbols in a frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 illustrates operation of a reset mode in signaling for single-memory deinterleaving irrespective of the number of symbols in a frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 illustrates equations indicating input and output of the frequency interleaver in signaling for single-memory deinterleaving irrespective of the number of symbols in a frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 29 illustrates equations of a logical operation mechanism of frequency interleaving based on FI scheme #1 and FI scheme #2 in signaling for single-memory deinterleaving irrespective of the number of symbols in a frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 30 illustrates an example in which the number of symbols is an even number in signaling for single-memory deinterleaving irrespective of the number of symbols in a frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 31 illustrates an example in which the number of symbols is an even number in signaling for single-memory deinterleaving irrespective of the number of symbols in a frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 32 illustrates an example in which the number of symbols is an odd number in signaling for single-memory deinterleaving irrespective of the number of symbols in a frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 33 illustrates an example in which the number of symbols is an odd number in signaling for single-memory deinterleaving irrespective of the number of symbols in a frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 34 illustrates operation of the frequency deinterleaver in signaling for single-memory deinterleaving irrespective of the number of symbols in a frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 35 illustrates the concept of a variable bit-rate system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 36 illustrates writing and reading operations of block interleaving according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 37 shows equations representing block interleaving according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 38 illustrates virtual FEC blocks according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 39 shows equations representing reading operation after insertion of virtual FEC blocks according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 40 is a flowchart illustrating a time interleaving process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 41 shows equations representing a process of determining a shift value and a maximum TI block size according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 42 illustrates writing operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 43 illustrates reading operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 44 illustrates a result of skip operation in reading operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 45 shows a writing process of time deinterleaving according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 46 illustrates a writing process of time deinterleaving according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 47 shows equations representing reading operation of time deinterleaving according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 48 is a flowchart illustrating a time deinterleaving process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 49 is a table showing an interleaving type applied based on the number of PLPs.

FIG. 50 is a block diagram including a first embodiment of the above-described hybrid time interleaver structure.

FIG. 51 is a block diagram including a second embodiment of the above-described hybrid time interleaver structure.

FIG. 52 is a block diagram including a first embodiment of the hybrid time deinterleaver structure.

FIG. 53 is a block diagram including a second embodiment of the hybrid time deinterleaver structure.

FIG. 54 illustrates a hybrid broadcast reception device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 55 is a block diagram illustrating a hybrid broadcast receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 56 shows a protocol stack of a next generation hybrid broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 57 shows a structure of a transport frame transmitted to a physical layer of a next generation broadcast transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 58 is a diagram illustrating a transport packet of an application layer transmission protocol according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 59 illustrates a method of transmitting signaling data in a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 60 shows signaling data transmitted by a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention for rapid broadcast service scan of a receiver.

FIG. 61 shows signaling data transmitted by a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention for rapid broadcast service scan of a receiver.

FIG. 62 illustrates a method for signaling the location of a service layer signaling through FIC, which is signaling for rapid service scan and acquisition, and acquiring service layer signaling from the location according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 63 shows signaling data transmitted by a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention for rapid broadcast service scan of a receiver.

FIG. 64 illustrates a method for signaling the location of a service layer signaling through FIC, which is signaling for rapid service scan and acquisition, and acquiring service layer signaling from the location according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 65 is a diagram illustrating a service signaling message format of a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 66 shows a service signaling table used in a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 67 shows a service mapping table used in a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 68 shows a service signaling table of a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 69 shows a component mapping table used in a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 70 illustrates a component mapping table description according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 71 shows syntax of a component mapping table of a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 72 illustrates a method for delivering signaling associated with each service over a broadband network in a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 73 illustrates a method for signaling MPD in a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 74 shows syntax of an MPD delivery table of a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 75 shows a description of a transmission session instance of a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 76 shows a SourceFlow element of a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 77 shows an EFDT of a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 78 illustrates a method of transmitting an ISDT used by a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 79 shows a delivery structure of a signaling message of a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 80 is a diagram illustrating a next generation broadcast transmission device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 81 is a diagram illustrating a next generation broadcast reception device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 82 illustrates a next generation broadcast transmission method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 83 illustrates a next generation broadcast receiving method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The detailed description, which will be given below with reference to the accompanying drawings, is intended to explain exemplary embodiments of the present invention, rather than to show the only embodiments that can be implemented according to the present invention.

Although most terms of elements in this specification have been selected from general ones widely used in the art taking into consideration functions thereof in this specification, the terms may be changed depending on the intention or convention of those skilled in the art or the introduction of new technology. Some terms have been arbitrarily selected by the applicant and their meanings are explained in the following description as needed. Thus, the terms used in this specification should be construed based on the overall content of this specification together with the actual meanings of the terms rather than their simple names or meanings.

The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for transmitting and receiving broadcast signals for future broadcast services. Future broadcast services according to an embodiment of the present invention include a terrestrial broadcast service, a mobile broadcast service, a UHDTV service, etc. The present invention may process broadcast signals for the future broadcast services through non-MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) or MIMO according to one embodiment. A non-MIMO scheme according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a MISO (Multiple Input Single Output) scheme, a SISO (Single Input Single Output) scheme, etc.

While MISO or MIMO uses two antennas in the following for convenience of description, the present invention is applicable to systems using two or more antennas. The present invention may defines three physical layer (PL) profiles—base, handheld and advanced profiles—each optimized to minimize receiver complexity while attaining the performance required for a particular use case. The physical layer (PHY) profiles are subsets of all configurations that a corresponding receiver should implement.

The three PHY profiles share most of the functional blocks but differ slightly in specific blocks and/or parameters. Additional PHY profiles can be defined in the future. For the system evolution, future profiles can also be multiplexed with the existing profiles in a single RF channel through a future extension frame (FEF). The details of each PHY profile are described below.

1. Base Profile

The base profile represents a main use case for fixed receiving devices that are usually connected to a roof-top antenna. The base profile also includes portable devices that could be transported to a place but belong to a relatively stationary reception category. Use of the base profile could be extended to handheld devices or even vehicular by some improved implementations, but those use cases are not expected for the base profile receiver operation.

Target SNR range of reception is from approximately 10 to 20 dB, which includes the 15 dB SNR reception capability of the existing broadcast system (e.g. ATSC A/53). The receiver complexity and power consumption is not as critical as in the battery-operated handheld devices, which will use the handheld profile. Key system parameters for the base profile are listed in below table 1.

TABLE 1 LDPC codeword length 16K, 64K bits Constellation size 4~10 bpcu (bits per channel use) Time de-interleaving memory size ≤2¹⁹ data cells Pilot patterns Pilot pattern for fixed reception FFT size 16K, 32K points

2. Handheld Profile

The handheld profile is designed for use in handheld and vehicular devices that operate with battery power. The devices can be moving with pedestrian or vehicle speed. The power consumption as well as the receiver complexity is very important for the implementation of the devices of the handheld profile. The target SNR range of the handheld profile is approximately 0 to 10 dB, but can be configured to reach below 0 dB when intended for deeper indoor reception.

In addition to low SNR capability, resilience to the Doppler Effect caused by receiver mobility is the most important performance attribute of the handheld profile. Key system parameters for the handheld profile are listed in the below table 2.

TABLE 2 LDPC codeword length 16K bits Constellation size 2~8 bpcu Time de-interleaving memory size ≤2¹⁸ data cells Pilot patterns Pilot patterns for mobile and indoor reception FFT size 8K, 16K points

3. Advanced Profile

The advanced profile provides highest channel capacity at the cost of more implementation complexity. This profile requires using MIMO transmission and reception, and UHDTV service is a target use case for which this profile is specifically designed. The increased capacity can also be used to allow an increased number of services in a given bandwidth, e.g., multiple SDTV or HDTV services.

The target SNR range of the advanced profile is approximately 20 to 30 dB. MIMO transmission may initially use existing elliptically-polarized transmission equipment, with extension to full-power cross-polarized transmission in the future. Key system parameters for the advanced profile are listed in below table 3.

TABLE 3 LDPC codeword length 16K, 64K bits Constellation size 8~12 bpcu Time de-interleaving memory size ≤2¹⁹ data cells Pilot patterns Pilot pattern for fixed reception FFT size 16K, 32K points

In this case, the base profile can be used as a profile for both the terrestrial broadcast service and the mobile broadcast service. That is, the base profile can be used to define a concept of a profile which includes the mobile profile. Also, the advanced profile can be divided advanced profile for a base profile with MIMO and advanced profile for a handheld profile with MIMO. Moreover, the three profiles can be changed according to intention of the designer.

The following terms and definitions may apply to the present invention. The following terms and definitions can be changed according to design.

auxiliary stream: sequence of cells carrying data of as yet undefined modulation and coding, which may be used for future extensions or as required by broadcasters or network operators

base data pipe: data pipe that carries service signaling data

baseband frame (or BBFRAME): set of Kbch bits which form the input to one FEC encoding process (BCH and LDPC encoding)

cell: modulation value that is carried by one carrier of the OFDM transmission

coded block: LDPC-encoded block of PLS1 data or one of the LDPC-encoded blocks of PLS2 data

data pipe: logical channel in the physical layer that carries service data or related metadata, which may carry one or multiple service(s) or service component(s).

data pipe unit: a basic unit for allocating data cells to a DP in a frame.

data symbol: OFDM symbol in a frame which is not a preamble symbol (the frame signaling symbol and frame edge symbol is included in the data symbol)

DP_ID: this 8-bit field identifies uniquely a DP within the system identified by the SYSTEM_ID

dummy cell: cell carrying a pseudo-random value used to fill the remaining capacity not used for PLS signaling, DPs or auxiliary streams

emergency alert channel: part of a frame that carries EAS information data

frame: physical layer time slot that starts with a preamble and ends with a frame edge symbol

frame repetition unit: a set of frames belonging to same or different physical layer profile including a FEF, which is repeated eight times in a super-frame

quick information channel: a logical channel in a frame that carries the mapping information between a service and the corresponding base DP

FECBLOCK: set of LDPC-encoded bits of a DP data

FFT size: nominal FFT size used for a particular mode, equal to the active symbol period Ts expressed in cycles of the elementary period T

frame signaling symbol: OFDM symbol with higher pilot density used at the start of a frame in certain combinations of FFT size, guard interval and scattered pilot pattern, which carries a part of the PLS data

frame edge symbol: OFDM symbol with higher pilot density used at the end of a frame in certain combinations of FFT size, guard interval and scattered pilot pattern

frame-group: the set of all the frames having the same PHY profile type in a super-frame.

future extension frame: physical layer time slot within the super-frame that could be used for future extension, which starts with a preamble

Futurecast UTB system: proposed physical layer broadcast system, of which the input is one or more MPEG2-TS or IP or general stream(s) and of which the output is an RF signal

input stream: A stream of data for an ensemble of services delivered to the end users by the system.

normal data symbol: data symbol excluding the frame signaling symbol and the frame edge symbol

PHY profile: subset of all configurations that a corresponding receiver should implement

PLS: physical layer signaling data consisting of PLS1 and PLS2

PLS1: a first set of PLS data carried in the FSS symbols having a fixed size, coding and modulation, which carries basic information about the system as well as the parameters needed to decode the PLS2

NOTE: PLS1 data remains constant for the duration of a frame-group.

PLS2: a second set of PLS data transmitted in the FSS symbol, which carries more detailed PLS data about the system and the DPs

PLS2 dynamic data: PLS2 data that may dynamically change frame-by-frame

PLS2 static data: PLS2 data that remains static for the duration of a frame-group

preamble signaling data: signaling data carried by the preamble symbol and used to identify the basic mode of the system

preamble symbol: fixed-length pilot symbol that carries basic PLS data and is located in the beginning of a frame

NOTE: The preamble symbol is mainly used for quick initial band scan to detect the system signal, its timing, frequency offset, and FFT-size.

reserved for future use: not defined by the present document but may be defined in future

super-frame: set of eight frame repetition units

time interleaving block (TI block): set of cells within which time interleaving is carried out, corresponding to one use of the time interleaver memory

TI group: unit over which dynamic capacity allocation for a particular DP is carried out, made up of an integer, dynamically varying number of XFECBLOCKs

NOTE: The TI group may be mapped directly to one frame or may be mapped to multiple frames. It may contain one or more TI blocks.

Type 1 DP: DP of a frame where all DPs are mapped into the frame in TDM fashion

Type 2 DP: DP of a frame where all DPs are mapped into the frame in FDM fashion

XFECBLOCK: set of Ncells cells carrying all the bits of one LDPC FECBLOCK

FIG. 1 illustrates a structure of an apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals for future broadcast services according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals for future broadcast services according to an embodiment of the present invention can include an input formatting block 1000, a BICM (Bit interleaved coding & modulation) block 1010, a frame building block 1020, an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) generation block 1030 and a signaling generation block 1040. A description will be given of the operation of each module of the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals.

IP stream/packets and MPEG2-TS are the main input formats, other stream types are handled as General Streams. In addition to these data inputs, Management Information is input to control the scheduling and allocation of the corresponding bandwidth for each input stream. One or multiple TS stream(s), IP stream(s) and/or General Stream(s) inputs are simultaneously allowed.

The input formatting block 1000 can demultiplex each input stream into one or multiple data pipe(s), to each of which an independent coding and modulation is applied. The data pipe (DP) is the basic unit for robustness control, thereby affecting quality-of-service (QoS). One or multiple service(s) or service component(s) can be carried by a single DP. Details of operations of the input formatting block 1000 will be described later.

The data pipe is a logical channel in the physical layer that carries service data or related metadata, which may carry one or multiple service(s) or service component(s).

Also, the data pipe unit: a basic unit for allocating data cells to a DP in a frame.

In the BICM block 1010, parity data is added for error correction and the encoded bit streams are mapped to complex-value constellation symbols. The symbols are interleaved across a specific interleaving depth that is used for the corresponding DP. For the advanced profile, MIMO encoding is performed in the BICM block 1010 and the additional data path is added at the output for MIMO transmission. Details of operations of the BICM block 1010 will be described later.

The Frame Building block 1020 can map the data cells of the input DPs into the OFDM symbols within a frame. After mapping, the frequency interleaving is used for frequency-domain diversity, especially to combat frequency-selective fading channels. Details of operations of the Frame Building block 1020 will be described later.

After inserting a preamble at the beginning of each frame, the OFDM Generation block 1030 can apply conventional OFDM modulation having a cyclic prefix as guard interval. For antenna space diversity, a distributed MISO scheme is applied across the transmitters. In addition, a Peak-to-Average Power Reduction (PAPR) scheme is performed in the time domain. For flexible network planning, this proposal provides a set of various FFT sizes, guard interval lengths and corresponding pilot patterns. Details of operations of the OFDM Generation block 1030 will be described later.

The Signaling Generation block 1040 can create physical layer signaling information used for the operation of each functional block. This signaling information is also transmitted so that the services of interest are properly recovered at the receiver side. Details of operations of the Signaling Generation block 1040 will be described later.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 illustrate the input formatting block 1000 according to embodiments of the present invention. A description will be given of each figure.

FIG. 2 illustrates an input formatting block according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows an input formatting module when the input signal is a single input stream.

The input formatting block illustrated in FIG. 2 corresponds to an embodiment of the input formatting block 1000 described with reference to FIG. 1.

The input to the physical layer may be composed of one or multiple data streams. Each data stream is carried by one DP. The mode adaptation modules slice the incoming data stream into data fields of the baseband frame (BBF). The system supports three types of input data streams: MPEG2-TS, Internet protocol (IP) and Generic stream (GS). MPEG2-TS is characterized by fixed length (188 byte) packets with the first byte being a sync-byte (0x47). An IP stream is composed of variable length IP datagram packets, as signaled within IP packet headers. The system supports both IPv4 and IPv6 for the IP stream. GS may be composed of variable length packets or constant length packets, signaled within encapsulation packet headers.

(a) shows a mode adaptation block 2000 and a stream adaptation 2010 for signal DP and (b) shows a PLS generation block 2020 and a PLS scrambler 2030 for generating and processing PLS data. A description will be given of the operation of each block.

The Input Stream Splitter splits the input TS, IP, GS streams into multiple service or service component (audio, video, etc.) streams. The mode adaptation module 2010 is comprised of a CRC Encoder, BB (baseband) Frame Slicer, and BB Frame Header Insertion block.

The CRC Encoder provides three kinds of CRC encoding for error detection at the user packet (UP) level, i.e., CRC-8, CRC-16, and CRC-32. The computed CRC bytes are appended after the UP. CRC-8 is used for TS stream and CRC-32 for IP stream. If the GS stream doesn't provide the CRC encoding, the proposed CRC encoding should be applied.

BB Frame Slicer maps the input into an internal logical-bit format. The first received bit is defined to be the MSB. The BB Frame Slicer allocates a number of input bits equal to the available data field capacity. To allocate a number of input bits equal to the BBF payload, the UP packet stream is sliced to fit the data field of BBF.

BB Frame Header Insertion block can insert fixed length BBF header of 2 bytes is inserted in front of the BB Frame. The BBF header is composed of STUFFI (1 bit), SYNCD (13 bits), and RFU (2 bits). In addition to the fixed 2-Byte BBF header, BBF can have an extension field (1 or 3 bytes) at the end of the 2-byte BBF header.

The stream adaptation 2010 is comprised of stuffing insertion block and BB scrambler. The stuffing insertion block can insert stuffing field into a payload of a BB frame. If the input data to the stream adaptation is sufficient to fill a BB-Frame, STUFFI is set to ‘0’ and the BBF has no stuffing field. Otherwise STUFFI is set to ‘1’ and the stuffing field is inserted immediately after the BBF header. The stuffing field comprises two bytes of the stuffing field header and a variable size of stuffing data.

The BB scrambler scrambles complete BBF for energy dispersal. The scrambling sequence is synchronous with the BBF. The scrambling sequence is generated by the feed-back shift register.

The PLS generation block 2020 can generate physical layer signaling (PLS) data. The PLS provides the receiver with a means to access physical layer DPs. The PLS data consists of PLS1 data and PLS2 data.

The PLS1 data is a first set of PLS data carried in the FSS symbols in the frame having a fixed size, coding and modulation, which carries basic information about the system as well as the parameters needed to decode the PLS2 data. The PLS1 data provides basic transmission parameters including parameters required to enable the reception and decoding of the PLS2 data. Also, the PLS1 data remains constant for the duration of a frame-group.

The PLS2 data is a second set of PLS data transmitted in the FSS symbol, which carries more detailed PLS data about the system and the DPs. The PLS2 contains parameters that provide sufficient information for the receiver to decode the desired DP. The PLS2 signaling further consists of two types of parameters, PLS2 Static data (PLS2-STAT data) and PLS2 dynamic data (PLS2-DYN data). The PLS2 Static data is PLS2 data that remains static for the duration of a frame-group and the PLS2 dynamic data is PLS2 data that may dynamically change frame-by-frame.

Details of the PLS data will be described later.

The PLS scrambler 2030 can scramble the generated PLS data for energy dispersal.

The above-described blocks may be omitted or replaced by blocks having similar or identical functions.

FIG. 3 illustrates an input formatting block according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The input formatting block illustrated in FIG. 3 corresponds to an embodiment of the input formatting block 1000 described with reference to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a mode adaptation block of the input formatting block when the input signal corresponds to multiple input streams.

The mode adaptation block of the input formatting block for processing the multiple input streams can independently process the multiple input streams.

Referring to FIG. 3, the mode adaptation block for respectively processing the multiple input streams can include an input stream splitter 3000, an input stream synchronizer 3010, a compensating delay block 3020, a null packet deletion block 3030, a head compression block 3040, a CRC encoder 3050, a BB frame slicer 3060 and a BB header insertion block 3070. Description will be given of each block of the mode adaptation block.

Operations of the CRC encoder 3050, BB frame slicer 3060 and BB header insertion block 3070 correspond to those of the CRC encoder, BB frame slicer and BB header insertion block described with reference to FIG. 2 and thus description thereof is omitted.

The input stream splitter 3000 can split the input TS, IP, GS streams into multiple service or service component (audio, video, etc.) streams.

The input stream synchronizer 3010 may be referred as ISSY. The ISSY can provide suitable means to guarantee Constant Bit Rate (CBR) and constant end-to-end transmission delay for any input data format. The ISSY is always used for the case of multiple DPs carrying TS, and optionally used for multiple DPs carrying GS streams.

The compensating delay block 3020 can delay the split TS packet stream following the insertion of ISSY information to allow a TS packet recombining mechanism without requiring additional memory in the receiver.

The null packet deletion block 3030, is used only for the TS input stream case. Some TS input streams or split TS streams may have a large number of null-packets present in order to accommodate VBR (variable bit-rate) services in a CBR TS stream. In this case, in order to avoid unnecessary transmission overhead, null-packets can be identified and not transmitted. In the receiver, removed null-packets can be re-inserted in the exact place where they were originally by reference to a deleted null-packet (DNP) counter that is inserted in the transmission, thus guaranteeing constant bit-rate and avoiding the need for time-stamp (PCR) updating.

The head compression block 3040 can provide packet header compression to increase transmission efficiency for TS or IP input streams. Because the receiver can have a priori information on certain parts of the header, this known information can be deleted in the transmitter.

For Transport Stream, the receiver has a-priori information about the sync-byte configuration (0x47) and the packet length (188 Byte). If the input TS stream carries content that has only one PID, i.e., for only one service component (video, audio, etc.) or service sub-component (SVC base layer, SVC enhancement layer, MVC base view or MVC dependent views), TS packet header compression can be applied (optionally) to the Transport Stream. IP packet header compression is used optionally if the input steam is an IP stream. The above-described blocks may be omitted or replaced by blocks having similar or identical functions.

FIG. 4 illustrates a BICM block according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The BICM block illustrated in FIG. 4 corresponds to an embodiment of the BICM block 1010 described with reference to FIG. 1.

As described above, the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals for future broadcast services according to an embodiment of the present invention can provide a terrestrial broadcast service, mobile broadcast service, UHDTV service, etc.

Since QoS (quality of service) depends on characteristics of a service provided by the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals for future broadcast services according to an embodiment of the present invention, data corresponding to respective services needs to be processed through different schemes. Accordingly, the a BICM block according to an embodiment of the present invention can independently process DPs input thereto by independently applying SISO, MISO and MIMO schemes to the data pipes respectively corresponding to data paths. Consequently, the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals for future broadcast services according to an embodiment of the present invention can control QoS for each service or service component transmitted through each DP.

(a) shows the BICM block shared by the base profile and the handheld profile and (b) shows the BICM block of the advanced profile.

The BICM block shared by the base profile and the handheld profile and the BICM block of the advanced profile can include plural processing blocks for processing each DP.

A description will be given of each processing block of the BICM block for the base profile and the handheld profile and the BICM block for the advanced profile.

A processing block 5000 of the BICM block for the base profile and the handheld profile can include a Data FEC encoder 5010, a bit interleaver 5020, a constellation mapper 5030, an SSD (Signal Space Diversity) encoding block 5040 and a time interleaver 5050.

The Data FEC encoder 5010 can perform the FEC encoding on the input BBF to generate FECBLOCK procedure using outer coding (BCH), and inner coding (LDPC). The outer coding (BCH) is optional coding method. Details of operations of the Data FEC encoder 5010 will be described later.

The bit interleaver 5020 can interleave outputs of the Data FEC encoder 5010 to achieve optimized performance with combination of the LDPC codes and modulation scheme while providing an efficiently implementable structure. Details of operations of the bit interleaver 5020 will be described later.

The constellation mapper 5030 can modulate each cell word from the bit interleaver 5020 in the base and the handheld profiles, or cell word from the Cell-word demultiplexer 5010-1 in the advanced profile using either QPSK, QAM-16, non-uniform QAM (NUQ-64, NUQ-256, NUQ-1024) or non-uniform constellation (NUC-16, NUC-64, NUC-256, NUC-1024) to give a power-normalized constellation point, e1. This constellation mapping is applied only for DPs. Observe that QAM-16 and NUQs are square shaped, while NUCs have arbitrary shape. When each constellation is rotated by any multiple of 90 degrees, the rotated constellation exactly overlaps with its original one. This “rotation-sense” symmetric property makes the capacities and the average powers of the real and imaginary components equal to each other. Both NUQs and NUCs are defined specifically for each code rate and the particular one used is signaled by the parameter DP_MOD filed in PLS2 data.

The time interleaver 5050 can operates at the DP level. The parameters of time interleaving (TI) may be set differently for each DP. Details of operations of the time interleaver 5050 will be described later.

A processing block 5000-1 of the BICM block for the advanced profile can include the Data FEC encoder, bit interleaver, constellation mapper, and time interleaver.

However, the processing block 5000-1 is distinguished from the processing block 5000 further includes a cell-word demultiplexer 5010-1 and a MIMO encoding block 5020-1.

Also, the operations of the Data FEC encoder, bit interleaver, constellation mapper, and time interleaver in the processing block 5000-1 correspond to those of the Data FEC encoder 5010, bit interleaver 5020, constellation mapper 5030, and time interleaver 5050 described and thus description thereof is omitted.

The cell-word demultiplexer 5010-1 is used for the DP of the advanced profile to divide the single cell-word stream into dual cell-word streams for MIMO processing. Details of operations of the cell-word demultiplexer 5010-1 will be described later.

The MIMO encoding block 5020-1 can processing the output of the cell-word demultiplexer 5010-1 using MIMO encoding scheme. The MIMO encoding scheme was optimized for broadcasting signal transmission. The MIMO technology is a promising way to get a capacity increase but it depends on channel characteristics. Especially for broadcasting, the strong LOS component of the channel or a difference in the received signal power between two antennas caused by different signal propagation characteristics makes it difficult to get capacity gain from MIMO. The proposed MIMO encoding scheme overcomes this problem using a rotation-based pre-coding and phase randomization of one of the MIMO output signals.

MIMO encoding is intended for a 2×2 MIMO system requiring at least two antennas at both the transmitter and the receiver. Two MIMO encoding modes are defined in this proposal; full-rate spatial multiplexing (FR-SM) and full-rate full-diversity spatial multiplexing (FRFD-SM). The FR-SM encoding provides capacity increase with relatively small complexity increase at the receiver side while the FRFD-SM encoding provides capacity increase and additional diversity gain with a great complexity increase at the receiver side. The proposed MIMO encoding scheme has no restriction on the antenna polarity configuration.

MIMO processing is required for the advanced profile frame, which means all DPs in the advanced profile frame are processed by the MIMO encoder. MIMO processing is applied at DP level. Pairs of the Constellation Mapper outputs NUQ (e1,i and e2,i) are fed to the input of the MIMO Encoder. Paired MIMO Encoder output (g1,i and g2,i) is transmitted by the same carrier k and OFDM symbol l of their respective TX antennas.

The above-described blocks may be omitted or replaced by blocks having similar or identical functions.

FIG. 5 illustrates a BICM block according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The BICM block illustrated in FIG. 6 corresponds to an embodiment of the BICM block 1010 described with reference to FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates a BICM block for protection of physical layer signaling (PLS), emergency alert channel (EAC) and quick information channel (FIC). EAC is a part of a frame that carries EAS information data and FIC is a logical channel in a frame that carries the mapping information between a service and the corresponding base DP. Details of the EAC and FIC will be described later.

Referring to FIG. 6, the BICM block for protection of PLS, EAC and FIC can include a PLS FEC encoder 6000, a bit interleaver 6010 and a constellation mapper 6020.

Also, the PLS FEC encoder 6000 can include a scrambler, BCH encoding/zero insertion block, LDPC encoding block and LDPC parity punturing block. Description will be given of each block of the BICM block.

The PLS FEC encoder 6000 can encode the scrambled PLS 1/2 data, EAC and FIC section.

The scrambler can scramble PLS1 data and PLS2 data before BCH encoding and shortened and punctured LDPC encoding.

The BCH encoding/zero insertion block can perform outer encoding on the scrambled PLS 1/2 data using the shortened BCH code for PLS protection and insert zero bits after the BCH encoding. For PLS1 data only, the output bits of the zero insertion may be permutted before LDPC encoding.

The LDPC encoding block can encode the output of the BCH encoding/zero insertion block using LDPC code. To generate a complete coded block, Cldpc, parity bits, Pldpc are encoded systematically from each zero-inserted PLS information block, Ildpc and appended after it.

C _(ldpc)=[I _(ldpc) P _(ldpc)]=[i ₀ ,i ₁ , . . . ,i _(K) _(ldpc) ⁻¹ ,p ₀ ,p ₁ , . . . ,p _(N) _(ldpc) _(−K) _(ldpc) ⁻¹−1]  [Equation 1]

The LDPC code parameters for PLS1 and PLS2 are as following table 4.

TABLE 4 Signaling K_(ldpc) code Type K_(sig) K_(bch) N_(bch) _(—) _(parity) (=N_(bch)) N_(ldpc) N_(ldpc) _(—) _(parity) rate Q_(ldpc) PLS1 342 1020 60 1080 4320 3240 1/4  36 PLS2 <1021 >1020 2100 2160 7200 5040 3/10 56

The LDPC parity punturing block can perform puncturing on the PLS1 data and PLS 2 data.

When shortening is applied to the PLS1 data protection, some LDPC parity bits are punctured after LDPC encoding. Also, for the PLS2 data protection, the LDPC parity bits of PLS2 are punctured after LDPC encoding. These punctured bits are not transmitted.

The bit interleaver 6010 can interleave the each shortened and punctured PLS1 data and PLS2 data.

The constellation mapper 6020 can map the bit interleaved PLS1 data and PLS2 data onto constellations.

The above-described blocks may be omitted or replaced by blocks having similar or identical functions.

FIG. 6 illustrates a frame building block according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The frame building block illustrated in FIG. 6 corresponds to an embodiment of the frame building block 1020 described with reference to FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 6, the frame building block can include a delay compensation block 7000, a cell mapper 7010 and a frequency interleaver 7020. Description will be given of each block of the frame building block.

The delay compensation block 7000 can adjust the timing between the data pipes and the corresponding PLS data to ensure that they are co-timed at the transmitter end. The PLS data is delayed by the same amount as data pipes are by addressing the delays of data pipes caused by the Input Formatting block and BICM block. The delay of the BICM block is mainly due to the time interleaver 5050. In-band signaling data carries information of the next TI group so that they are carried one frame ahead of the DPs to be signaled. The Delay Compensating block delays in-band signaling data accordingly.

The cell mapper 7010 can map PLS, EAC, FIC, DPs, auxiliary streams and dummy cells into the active carriers of the OFDM symbols in the frame. The basic function of the cell mapper 7010 is to map data cells produced by the TIs for each of the DPs, PLS cells, and EAC/FIC cells, if any, into arrays of active OFDM cells corresponding to each of the OFDM symbols within a frame. Service signaling data (such as PSI (program specific information)/SI) can be separately gathered and sent by a data pipe. The Cell Mapper operates according to the dynamic information produced by the scheduler and the configuration of the frame structure. Details of the frame will be described later.

The frequency interleaver 7020 can randomly interleave data cells received from the cell mapper 7010 to provide frequency diversity. Also, the frequency interleaver 7020 can operate on very OFDM symbol pair comprised of two sequential OFDM symbols using a different interleaving-seed order to get maximum interleaving gain in a single frame.

The above-described blocks may be omitted or replaced by blocks having similar or identical functions.

FIG. 7 illustrates an OFDM generation block according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The OFDM generation block illustrated in FIG. 7 corresponds to an embodiment of the OFDM generation block 1030 described with reference to FIG. 1.

The OFDM generation block modulates the OFDM carriers by the cells produced by the Frame Building block, inserts the pilots, and produces the time domain signal for transmission. Also, this block subsequently inserts guard intervals, and applies PAPR (Peak-to-Average Power Radio) reduction processing to produce the final RF signal.

Referring to FIG. 7, the OFDM generation block can include a pilot and reserved tone insertion block 8000, a 2D-eSFN encoding block 8010, an IFFT (Inverse Quick Fourier Transform) block 8020, a PAPR reduction block 8030, a guard interval insertion block 8040, a preamble insertion block 8050, other system insertion block 8060 and a DAC block 8070.

The other system insertion block 8060 can multiplex signals of a plurality of broadcast transmission/reception systems in the time domain such that data of two or more different broadcast transmission/reception systems providing broadcast services can be simultaneously transmitted in the same RF signal bandwidth. In this case, the two or more different broadcast transmission/reception systems refer to systems providing different broadcast services. The different broadcast services may refer to a terrestrial broadcast service, mobile broadcast service, etc.

FIG. 8 illustrates a structure of an apparatus for receiving broadcast signals for future broadcast services according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The apparatus for receiving broadcast signals for future broadcast services according to an embodiment of the present invention can correspond to the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals for future broadcast services, described with reference to FIG. 1.

The apparatus for receiving broadcast signals for future broadcast services according to an embodiment of the present invention can include a synchronization & demodulation module 9000, a frame parsing module 9010, a demapping & decoding module 9020, an output processor 9030 and a signaling decoding module 9040. A description will be given of operation of each module of the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals.

The synchronization & demodulation module 9000 can receive input signals through m Rx antennas, perform signal detection and synchronization with respect to a system corresponding to the apparatus for receiving broadcast signals and carry out demodulation corresponding to a reverse procedure of the procedure performed by the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals.

The frame parsing module 9010 can parse input signal frames and extract data through which a service selected by a user is transmitted. If the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals performs interleaving, the frame parsing module 9010 can carry out deinterleaving corresponding to a reverse procedure of interleaving. In this case, the positions of a signal and data that need to be extracted can be obtained by decoding data output from the signaling decoding module 9040 to restore scheduling information generated by the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals.

The demapping & decoding module 9020 can convert the input signals into bit domain data and then deinterleave the same as necessary. The demapping & decoding module 9020 can perform demapping for mapping applied for transmission efficiency and correct an error generated on a transmission channel through decoding. In this case, the demapping & decoding module 9020 can obtain transmission parameters necessary for demapping and decoding by decoding the data output from the signaling decoding module 9040.

The output processor 9030 can perform reverse procedures of various compression/signal processing procedures which are applied by the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals to improve transmission efficiency. In this case, the output processor 9030 can acquire necessary control information from data output from the signaling decoding module 9040. The output of the output processor 8300 corresponds to a signal input to the apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals and may be MPEG-TSs, IP streams (v4 or v6) and generic streams.

The signaling decoding module 9040 can obtain PLS information from the signal demodulated by the synchronization & demodulation module 9000. As described above, the frame parsing module 9010, demapping & decoding module 9020 and output processor 9030 can execute functions thereof using the data output from the signaling decoding module 9040.

FIG. 9 illustrates a frame structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows an example configuration of the frame types and FRUs in a super-frame. (a) shows a super frame according to an embodiment of the present invention, (b) shows FRU (Frame Repetition Unit) according to an embodiment of the present invention, (c) shows frames of variable PHY profiles in the FRU and (d) shows a structure of a frame.

A super-frame may be composed of eight FRUs. The FRU is a basic multiplexing unit for TDM of the frames, and is repeated eight times in a super-frame.

Each frame in the FRU belongs to one of the PHY profiles, (base, handheld, advanced) or FEF. The maximum allowed number of the frames in the FRU is four and a given PHY profile can appear any number of times from zero times to four times in the FRU (e.g., base, base, handheld, advanced). PHY profile definitions can be extended using reserved values of the PHY_PROFILE in the preamble, if required.

The FEF part is inserted at the end of the FRU, if included. When the FEF is included in the FRU, the minimum number of FEFs is 8 in a super-frame. It is not recommended that FEF parts be adjacent to each other.

One frame is further divided into a number of OFDM symbols and a preamble. As shown in (d), the frame comprises a preamble, one or more frame signaling symbols (FSS), normal data symbols and a frame edge symbol (FES).

The preamble is a special symbol that enables quick Futurecast UTB system signal detection and provides a set of basic transmission parameters for efficient transmission and reception of the signal. The detailed description of the preamble will be will be described later.

The main purpose of the FSS(s) is to carry the PLS data. For quick synchronization and channel estimation, and hence quick decoding of PLS data, the FSS has more dense pilot pattern than the normal data symbol. The FES has exactly the same pilots as the FSS, which enables frequency-only interpolation within the FES and temporal interpolation, without extrapolation, for symbols immediately preceding the FES.

FIG. 10 illustrates a signaling hierarchy structure of the frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates the signaling hierarchy structure, which is split into three main parts: the preamble signaling data 11000, the PLS1 data 11010 and the PLS2 data 11020. The purpose of the preamble, which is carried by the preamble symbol in every frame, is to indicate the transmission type and basic transmission parameters of that frame. The PLS1 enables the receiver to access and decode the PLS2 data, which contains the parameters to access the DP of interest. The PLS2 is carried in every frame and split into two main parts: PLS2-STAT data and PLS2-DYN data. The static and dynamic portion of PLS2 data is followed by padding, if necessary.

FIG. 11 illustrates preamble signaling data according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Preamble signaling data carries 21 bits of information that are needed to enable the receiver to access PLS data and trace DPs within the frame structure. Details of the preamble signaling data are as follows:

PHY_PROFILE: This 3-bit field indicates the PHY profile type of the current frame. The mapping of different PHY profile types is given in below table 5.

TABLE 5 Value PHY profile 000 Base profile 001 Handheld profile 010 Advanced profiled 011~110 Reserved 111 FEF

TABLE 6 Value FFT size 00 8K FFT 01 16K FFT 10 32K FFT 11 Reserved

GI_FRACTION: This 3 bit field indicates the guard interval fraction value in the current super-frame, as described in below table 7.

TABLE 7 Value GI_FRACTION 000 1/5  001 1/10 010 1/20 011 1/4  100 1/80 101  1/160 110~111 Reserved

EAC_FLAG: This 1 bit field indicates whether the EAC is provided in the current frame. If this field is set to ‘1’, emergency alert service (EAS) is provided in the current frame. If this field set to ‘0’, EAS is not carried in the current frame. This field can be switched dynamically within a super-frame.

PILOT_MODE: This 1-bit field indicates whether the pilot mode is mobile mode or fixed mode for the current frame in the current frame-group. If this field is set to ‘0’, mobile pilot mode is used. If the field is set to ‘1’, the fixed pilot mode is used.

PAPR_FLAG: This 1-bit field indicates whether PAPR reduction is used for the current frame in the current frame-group. If this field is set to value ‘1’, tone reservation is used for PAPR reduction. If this field is set to ‘0’, PAPR reduction is not used.

FRU_CONFIGURE: This 3-bit field indicates the PHY profile type configurations of the frame repetition units (FRU) that are present in the current super-frame. All profile types conveyed in the current super-frame are identified in this field in all preambles in the current super-frame. The 3-bit field has a different definition for each profile, as show in below table 8.

TABLE 8 Current Current Current Current PHY_PROFILE = PHY_PROFILE = PHY_PROFILE = PHY_PROFILE = ‘000’ (base) ‘001’ (handheld) ‘010’ (advanced) ‘111’ (FEF) FRU_CONFIGURE = Only base profile Only handheld Only advanced Only FEF 000 present profile present profile present present FRU_CONFIGURE = Handheld profile Base profile Base profile Base profile 1XX present present present present FRU_CONFIGURE = Advanced profile Advanced profile Handheld profile Handheld profile X1X present present present present FRU_CONFIGURE = FEF FEF present FEF Advanced profile XX1 present present present

RESERVED: This 7-bit field is reserved for future use.

FIG. 12 illustrates PLS1 data according to an embodiment of the present invention.

PLS1 data provides basic transmission parameters including parameters required to enable the reception and decoding of the PLS2. As above mentioned, the PLS1 data remain unchanged for the entire duration of one frame-group. The detailed definition of the signaling fields of the PLS1 data are as follows:

PREAMBLE_DATA: This 20-bit field is a copy of the preamble signaling data excluding the EAC_FLAG.

NUM_FRAME_FRU: This 2-bit field indicates the number of the frames per FRU.

PAYLOAD_TYPE: This 3-bit field indicates the format of the payload data carried in the frame-group. PAYLOAD_TYPE is signaled as shown in table 9.

TABLE 9 value Payload type 1XX TS stream is transmitted X1X IP stream is transmitted XX1 GS stream is transmitted

NUM_FSS: This 2-bit field indicates the number of FSS symbols in the current frame.

SYSTEM_VERSION: This 8-bit field indicates the version of the transmitted signal format. The SYSTEM_VERSION is divided into two 4-bit fields, which are a major version and a minor version.

Major version: The MSB four bits of SYSTEM_VERSION field indicate major version information. A change in the major version field indicates a non-backward-compatible change. The default value is ‘0000’. For the version described in this standard, the value is set to ‘0000’.

Minor version: The LSB four bits of SYSTEM_VERSION field indicate minor version information. A change in the minor version field is backward-compatible.

CELL_ID: This is a 16-bit field which uniquely identifies a geographic cell in an ATSC network. An ATSC cell coverage area may consist of one or more frequencies, depending on the number of frequencies used per Futurecast UTB system. If the value of the CELL_ID is not known or unspecified, this field is set to ‘0’.

NETWORK_ID: This is a 16-bit field which uniquely identifies the current ATSC network.

SYSTEM_ID: This 16-bit field uniquely identifies the Futurecast UTB system within the ATSC network. The Futurecast UTB system is the terrestrial broadcast system whose input is one or more input streams (TS, IP, GS) and whose output is an RF signal. The Futurecast UTB system carries one or more PHY profiles and FEF, if any. The same Futurecast UTB system may carry different input streams and use different RF frequencies in different geographical areas, allowing local service insertion. The frame structure and scheduling is controlled in one place and is identical for all transmissions within a Futurecast UTB system. One or more Futurecast UTB systems may have the same SYSTEM_ID meaning that they all have the same physical layer structure and configuration.

The following loop consists of FRU_PHY_PROFILE, FRU_FRAME_LENGTH, FRU_GI_FRACTION, and RESERVED which are used to indicate the FRU configuration and the length of each frame type. The loop size is fixed so that four PHY profiles (including a FEF) are signaled within the FRU. If NUM_FRAME_FRU is less than 4, the unused fields are filled with zeros.

FRU_PHY_PROFILE: This 3-bit field indicates the PHY profile type of the (i+1)th (i is the loop index) frame of the associated FRU. This field uses the same signaling format as shown in the table 8.

FRU_FRAME_LENGTH: This 2-bit field indicates the length of the (i+1)th frame of the associated FRU. Using FRU_FRAME_LENGTH together with FRU_GI_FRACTION, the exact value of the frame duration can be obtained.

FRU_GI_FRACTION: This 3-bit field indicates the guard interval fraction value of the (i+1)th frame of the associated FRU. FRU_GI_FRACTION is signaled according to the table 7.

RESERVED: This 4-bit field is reserved for future use.

The following fields provide parameters for decoding the PLS2 data.

PLS2_FEC_TYPE: This 2-bit field indicates the FEC type used by the PLS2 protection. The FEC type is signaled according to table 10. The details of the LDPC codes will be described later.

TABLE 10 Content PLS2 FEC type 00 4K-1/4 and 7K-3/10 LDPC codes 01~11 Reserved

PLS2_MOD: This 3-bit field indicates the modulation type used by the PLS2. The modulation type is signaled according to table 11.

TABLE 11 Value PLS2_MODE 000 BPSK 001 QPSK 010 QAM-16 011 NUQ-64 100~111 Reserved

PLS2_SIZE_CELL: This 15-bit field indicates Ctotal_partial_block, the size (specified as the number of QAM cells) of the collection of full coded blocks for PLS2 that is carried in the current frame-group. This value is constant during the entire duration of the current frame-group.

PLS2_STAT_SIZE_BIT: This 14-bit field indicates the size, in bits, of the PLS2-STAT for the current frame-group. This value is constant during the entire duration of the current frame-group.

PLS2_DYN_SIZE_BIT: This 14-bit field indicates the size, in bits, of the PLS2-DYN for the current frame-group. This value is constant during the entire duration of the current frame-group.

PLS2_REP_FLAG: This 1-bit flag indicates whether the PLS2 repetition mode is used in the current frame-group. When this field is set to value ‘1’, the PLS2 repetition mode is activated. When this field is set to value ‘0’, the PLS2 repetition mode is deactivated.

PLS2_REP_SIZE_CELL: This 15-bit field indicates Ctotal_partial_block, the size (specified as the number of QAM cells) of the collection of partial coded blocks for PLS2 carried in every frame of the current frame-group, when PLS2 repetition is used. If repetition is not used, the value of this field is equal to 0. This value is constant during the entire duration of the current frame-group.

PLS2_NEXT_FEC_TYPE: This 2-bit field indicates the FEC type used for PLS2 that is carried in every frame of the next frame-group. The FEC type is signaled according to the table 10.

PLS2_NEXT_MOD: This 3-bit field indicates the modulation type used for PLS2 that is carried in every frame of the next frame-group. The modulation type is signaled according to the table 11.

PLS2_NEXT_REP_FLAG: This 1-bit flag indicates whether the PLS2 repetition mode is used in the next frame-group. When this field is set to value ‘1’, the PLS2 repetition mode is activated. When this field is set to value ‘0’, the PLS2 repetition mode is deactivated.

PLS2_NEXT_REP_SIZE_CELL: This 15-bit field indicates Ctotal_full_block, The size (specified as the number of QAM cells) of the collection of full coded blocks for PLS2 that is carried in every frame of the next frame-group, when PLS2 repetition is used. If repetition is not used in the next frame-group, the value of this field is equal to 0. This value is constant during the entire duration of the current frame-group.

PLS2_NEXT_REP_STAT_SIZE_BIT: This 14-bit field indicates the size, in bits, of the PLS2-STAT for the next frame-group. This value is constant in the current frame-group.

PLS2_NEXT_REP_DYN_SIZE_BIT: This 14-bit field indicates the size, in bits, of the PLS2-DYN for the next frame-group. This value is constant in the current frame-group.

PLS2_AP_MODE: This 2-bit field indicates whether additional parity is provided for PLS2 in the current frame-group. This value is constant during the entire duration of the current frame-group. The below table 12 gives the values of this field. When this field is set to ‘00’, additional parity is not used for the PLS2 in the current frame-group.

TABLE 12 Value PLS2-AP mode 00 AP is not provided 01 AP1 mode 10~11 Reserved

PLS2_AP_SIZE_CELL: This 15-bit field indicates the size (specified as the number of QAM cells) of the additional parity bits of the PLS2. This value is constant during the entire duration of the current frame-group.

PLS2_NEXT_AP_MODE: This 2-bit field indicates whether additional parity is provided for PLS2 signaling in every frame of next frame-group. This value is constant during the entire duration of the current frame-group. The table 12 defines the values of this field

PLS2_NEXT_AP_SIZE_CELL: This 15-bit field indicates the size (specified as the number of QAM cells) of the additional parity bits of the PLS2 in every frame of the next frame-group. This value is constant during the entire duration of the current frame-group.

RESERVED: This 32-bit field is reserved for future use.

CRC_32: A 32-bit error detection code, which is applied to the entire PLS1 signaling.

FIG. 13 illustrates PLS2 data according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates PLS2-STAT data of the PLS2 data. The PLS2-STAT data are the same within a frame-group, while the PLS2-DYN data provide information that is specific for the current frame.

The details of fields of the PLS2-STAT data are as follows:

FIC_FLAG: This 1-bit field indicates whether the FIC is used in the current frame-group. If this field is set to ‘1’, the FIC is provided in the current frame. If this field set to ‘0’, the FIC is not carried in the current frame. This value is constant during the entire duration of the current frame-group.

AUX_FLAG: This 1-bit field indicates whether the auxiliary stream(s) is used in the current frame-group. If this field is set to ‘ l’, the auxiliary stream is provided in the current frame. If this field set to ‘0’, the auxiliary stream is not carried in the current frame. This value is constant during the entire duration of current frame-group.

NUM_DP: This 6-bit field indicates the number of DPs carried within the current frame. The value of this field ranges from 1 to 64, and the number of DPs is NUM_DP+1.

DP_ID: This 6-bit field identifies uniquely a DP within a PHY profile.

DP_TYPE: This 3-bit field indicates the type of the DP. This is signaled according to the below table 13.

TABLE 13 Value DP Type 000 DP Type 1 001 DP Type 2 010~111 reserved

DP_GROUP_ID: This 8-bit field identifies the DP group with which the current DP is associated. This can be used by a receiver to access the DPs of the service components associated with a particular service, which will have the same DP_GROUP_ID.

BASE_DP_ID: This 6-bit field indicates the DP carrying service signaling data (such as PSI/SI) used in the Management layer. The DP indicated by BASE_DP_ID may be either a normal DP carrying the service signaling data along with the service data or a dedicated DP carrying only the service signaling data

DP_FEC_TYPE: This 2-bit field indicates the FEC type used by the associated DP. The FEC type is signaled according to the below table 14.

TABLE 14 Value FEC_TYPE 00 16K LDPC 01 64K LDPC 10~11 Reserved

DP_COD: This 4-bit field indicates the code rate used by the associated DP. The code rate is signaled according to the below table 15.

TABLE 15 Value Code rate 0000 5/15 0001 6/15 0010 7/15 0011 8/15 0100 9/15 0101 10/15  0110 11/15  0111 12/15  1000 13/15  1001~1111 Reserved

DP_MOD: This 4-bit field indicates the modulation used by the associated DP. The modulation is signaled according to the below table 16.

TABLE 16 Value Modulation 0000 QPSK 0001 QAM-16 0010 NUQ-64 0011 NUQ-256 0100 NUQ-1024 0101 NUC-16 0110 NUC-64 0111 NUC-256 1000 NUC-1024 1001~1111 reserved

DP_SSD_FLAG: This 1-bit field indicates whether the SSD mode is used in the associated DP. If this field is set to value ‘1’, SSD is used. If this field is set to value ‘0’, SSD is not used.

The following field appears only if PHY_PROFILE is equal to ‘010’, which indicates the advanced profile:

DP_MIMO: This 3-bit field indicates which type of MIMO encoding process is applied to the associated DP. The type of MIMO encoding process is signaled according to the table 17.

TABLE 17 Value MIMO encoding 000 FR-SM 001 FRFD-SM 010~111 reserved

DP_TI_TYPE: This 1-bit field indicates the type of time-interleaving. A value of ‘0’ indicates that one TI group corresponds to one frame and contains one or more TI-blocks. A value of ‘1’ indicates that one TI group is carried in more than one frame and contains only one TI-block.

DP_TI_LENGTH: The use of this 2-bit field (the allowed values are only 1, 2, 4, 8) is determined by the values set within the DP_TI_TYPE field as follows:

If the DP_TI_TYPE is set to the value ‘1’, this field indicates PI, the number of the frames to which each TI group is mapped, and there is one TI-block per TI group (NTI=1). The allowed PI values with 2-bit field are defined in the below table 18.

If the DP_TI_TYPE is set to the value ‘0’, this field indicates the number of TI-blocks NTI per TI group, and there is one TI group per frame (PI=1). The allowed PI values with 2-bit field are defined in the below table 18.

TABLE 18 2-bit field P_(I) N_(TI) 00 1 1 01 2 2 10 4 3 11 8 4

DP_FRAME_INTERVAL: This 2-bit field indicates the frame interval (IJUMP) within the frame-group for the associated DP and the allowed values are 1, 2, 4, 8 (the corresponding 2-bit field is ‘00’, ‘01’, ‘10’, or ‘11’, respectively). For DPs that do not appear every frame of the frame-group, the value of this field is equal to the interval between successive frames. For example, if a DP appears on the frames 1, 5, 9, 13, etc., this field is set to ‘4’. For DPs that appear in every frame, this field is set to ‘1’.

DP_TI_BYPASS: This 1-bit field determines the availability of time interleaver 5050. If time interleaving is not used for a DP, it is set to ‘1’. Whereas if time interleaving is used it is set to ‘0’.

DP_FIRST_FRAME_IDX: This 5-bit field indicates the index of the first frame of the super-frame in which the current DP occurs. The value of DP_FIRST_FRAME_IDX ranges from 0 to 31

DP_NUM_BLOCK_MAX: This 10-bit field indicates the maximum value of DP_NUM_BLOCKS for this DP. The value of this field has the same range as DP_NUM_BLOCKS.

DP_PAYLOAD_TYPE: This 2-bit field indicates the type of the payload data carried by the given DP. DP_PAYLOAD_TYPE is signaled according to the below table 19.

TABLE 19 Value Pay load Type 00 TS. 01 IP 10 GS 11 reserved

DP_INBAND_MODE: This 2-bit field indicates whether the current DP carries in-band signaling information. The in-band signaling type is signaled according to the below table 20.

TABLE 20 Value In-band mode 00 In-band signaling is not carried. 01 INBAND-PLS is carried only 10 INBAND-ISSY is carried only 11 INBAND-PLS and INBAND-ISSY are carried

DP_PROTOCOL_TYPE: This 2-bit field indicates the protocol type of the payload carried by the given DP. It is signaled according to the below table 21 when input payload types are selected.

TABLE 21 If If If DP_PAYLOAD_TYPE DP_PAYLOAD_TYPE DP_PAYLOAD_TYPE Value Is TS Is IP Is GS 00 MPEG2-TS IPv4 (Note) 01 Reserved IPv6 Reserved 10 Reserved Reserved Reserved 11 Reserved Reserved Reserved

DP_CRC_MODE: This 2-bit field indicates whether CRC encoding is used in the Input Formatting block. The CRC mode is signaled according to the below table 22.

TABLE 22 Value CRC mode 00 Not used 01 CRC-8 10 CRC-16 11 CRC-32

DNP_MODE: This 2-bit field indicates the null-packet deletion mode used by the associated DP when DP_PAYLOAD_TYPE is set to TS (‘00’). DNP_MODE is signaled according to the below table 23. If DP_PAYLOAD_TYPE is not TS (‘00’), DNP_MODE is set to the value ‘00’.

TABLE 23 Value Null-packet deletion mode 00 Not used 01 DNP-NORMAL 10 DNP-OFFSET 11 reserved

ISSY_MODE: This 2-bit field indicates the ISSY mode used by the associated DP when DP_PAYLOAD_TYPE is set to TS (‘00’). The ISSY_MODE is signaled according to the below table 24 If DP_PAYLOAD_TYPE is not TS (‘00’), ISSY_MODE is set to the value ‘00’.

TABLE 24 Value ISSY mode 00 Not used 01 ISSY-UP 10 ISSY-BBF 11 reserved

HC_MODE_TS: This 2-bit field indicates the TS header compression mode used by the associated DP when DP_PAYLOAD_TYPE is set to TS (‘00’). The HC_MODE_TS is signaled according to the below table 25.

TABLE 25 Value Header compression mode 00 HC_MODE_TS 1 01 HC_MODE_TS 2 10 HC_MODE_TS 3 11 HC_MODE_TS 4

HC_MODE_IP: This 2-bit field indicates the IP header compression mode when DP_PAYLOAD_TYPE is set to IP (′OF). The HC_MODE_IP is signaled according to the below table 26.

TABLE 26 Value Header compression mode 00 No compression 01 HC_MODE_IP 1 10~11 reserved

PID: This 13-bit field indicates the PID number for TS header compression when DP_PAYLOAD_TYPE is set to TS (‘00’) and HC_MODE_TS is set to ‘01’ or ‘10’.

RESERVED: This 8-bit field is reserved for future use.

The following field appears only if FIC_FLAG is equal to ‘I’:

FIC_VERSION: This 8-bit field indicates the version number of the FIC.

FIC_LENGTH_BYTE: This 13-bit field indicates the length, in bytes, of the FIC.

RESERVED: This 8-bit field is reserved for future use.

The following field appears only if AUX_FLAG is equal to ‘I’:

NUM_AUX: This 4-bit field indicates the number of auxiliary streams. Zero means no auxiliary streams are used.

AUX_CONFIG_RFU: This 8-bit field is reserved for future use.

AUX_STREAM_TYPE: This 4-bit is reserved for future use for indicating the type of the current auxiliary stream.

AUX_PRIVATE_CONFIG: This 28-bit field is reserved for future use for signaling auxiliary streams.

FIG. 14 illustrates PLS2 data according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 illustrates PLS2-DYN data of the PLS2 data. The values of the PLS2-DYN data may change during the duration of one frame-group, while the size of fields remains constant.

The details of fields of the PLS2-DYN data are as follows:

FRAME_INDEX: This 5-bit field indicates the frame index of the current frame within the super-frame. The index of the first frame of the super-frame is set to ‘0’.

PLS_CHANGE_COUNTER: This 4-bit field indicates the number of super-frames ahead where the configuration will change. The next super-frame with changes in the configuration is indicated by the value signaled within this field. If this field is set to the value ‘0000’, it means that no scheduled change is foreseen: e.g., value ‘1’ indicates that there is a change in the next super-frame.

FIC_CHANGE_COUNTER: This 4-bit field indicates the number of super-frames ahead where the configuration (i.e., the content of the FIC) will change. The next super-frame with changes in the configuration is indicated by the value signaled within this field. If this field is set to the value ‘0000’, it means that no scheduled change is foreseen: e.g. value ‘0001’ indicates that there is a change in the next super-frame.

RESERVED: This 16-bit field is reserved for future use.

The following fields appear in the loop over NUM_DP, which describe the parameters associated with the DP carried in the current frame.

DP_ID: This 6-bit field indicates uniquely the DP within a PHY profile.

DP_START: This 15-bit (or 13-bit) field indicates the start position of the first of the DPs using the DPU addressing scheme. The DP_START field has differing length according to the PHY profile and FFT size as shown in the below table 27.

TABLE 27 DP_START field size PHY profile 64K 16K Base 13 bit 15 bit Handheld — 13 bit Advanced 13 bit 15 bit

DP_NUM_BLOCK: This 10-bit field indicates the number of FEC blocks in the current TI group for the current DP. The value of DP_NUM_BLOCK ranges from 0 to 1023

RESERVED: This 8-bit field is reserved for future use.

The following fields indicate the FIC parameters associated with the EAC.

EAC_FLAG: This 1-bit field indicates the existence of the EAC in the current frame. This bit is the same value as the EAC_FLAG in the preamble.

EAS_WAKE_UP_VERSION_NUM: This 8-bit field indicates the version number of a wake-up indication.

If the EAC_FLAG field is equal to ‘1’, the following 12 bits are allocated for EAC_LENGTH_BYTE field. If the EAC_FLAG field is equal to ‘0’, the following 12 bits are allocated for EAC_COUNTER.

EAC_LENGTH_BYTE: This 12-bit field indicates the length, in byte, of the EAC.

EAC_COUNTER: This 12-bit field indicates the number of the frames before the frame where the EAC arrives.

The following field appears only if the AUX_FLAG field is equal to ‘1’:

AUX_PRIVATE_DYN: This 48-bit field is reserved for future use for signaling auxiliary streams. The meaning of this field depends on the value of AUX_STREAM_TYPE in the configurable PLS2-STAT.

CRC_32: A 32-bit error detection code, which is applied to the entire PLS2.

FIG. 15 illustrates a logical structure of a frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As above mentioned, the PLS, EAC, FIC, DPs, auxiliary streams and dummy cells are mapped into the active carriers of the OFDM symbols in the frame. The PLS1 and PLS2 are first mapped into one or more FSS(s). After that, EAC cells, if any, are mapped immediately following the PLS field, followed next by FIC cells, if any. The DPs are mapped next after the PLS or EAC, FIC, if any. Type 1 DPs follows first, and Type 2 DPs next. The details of a type of the DP will be described later. In some case, DPs may carry some special data for EAS or service signaling data. The auxiliary stream or streams, if any, follow the DPs, which in turn are followed by dummy cells. Mapping them all together in the above mentioned order, i.e. PLS, EAC, FIC, DPs, auxiliary streams and dummy data cells exactly fill the cell capacity in the frame.

FIG. 16 illustrates PLS mapping according to an embodiment of the present invention.

PLS cells are mapped to the active carriers of FSS(s). Depending on the number of cells occupied by PLS, one or more symbols are designated as FSS(s), and the number of FSS(s) NFSS is signaled by NUM_FSS in PLS1. The FSS is a special symbol for carrying PLS cells. Since robustness and latency are critical issues in the PLS, the FSS(s) has higher density of pilots allowing quick synchronization and frequency-only interpolation within the FSS.

PLS cells are mapped to active carriers of the NFSS FSS(s) in a top-down manner as shown in an example in FIG. 16. The PLS1 cells are mapped first from the first cell of the first FSS in an increasing order of the cell index. The PLS2 cells follow immediately after the last cell of the PLS1 and mapping continues downward until the last cell index of the first FSS. If the total number of required PLS cells exceeds the number of active carriers of one FSS, mapping proceeds to the next FSS and continues in exactly the same manner as the first FSS.

After PLS mapping is completed, DPs are carried next. If EAC, FIC or both are present in the current frame, they are placed between PLS and “normal” DPs.

FIG. 17 illustrates EAC mapping according to an embodiment of the present invention.

EAC is a dedicated channel for carrying EAS messages and links to the DPs for EAS. EAS support is provided but EAC itself may or may not be present in every frame. EAC, if any, is mapped immediately after the PLS2 cells. EAC is not preceded by any of the FIC, DPs, auxiliary streams or dummy cells other than the PLS cells. The procedure of mapping the EAC cells is exactly the same as that of the PLS.

The EAC cells are mapped from the next cell of the PLS2 in increasing order of the cell index as shown in the example in FIG. 17. Depending on the EAS message size, EAC cells may occupy a few symbols, as shown in FIG. 17.

EAC cells follow immediately after the last cell of the PLS2, and mapping continues downward until the last cell index of the last FSS. If the total number of required EAC cells exceeds the number of remaining active carriers of the last FSS mapping proceeds to the next symbol and continues in exactly the same manner as FSS(s). The next symbol for mapping in this case is the normal data symbol, which has more active carriers than a FSS.

After EAC mapping is completed, the FIC is carried next, if any exists. If FIC is not transmitted (as signaled in the PLS2 field), DPs follow immediately after the last cell of the EAC.

FIG. 18 illustrates FIC mapping according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(a) shows an example mapping of FIC cell without EAC and (b) shows an example mapping of FIC cell with EAC.

FIC is a dedicated channel for carrying cross-layer information to enable quick service acquisition and channel scan. This information primarily includes channel binding information between DPs and the services of each broadcaster. For quick scan, a receiver can decode FIC and obtain information such as broadcaster ID, number of services, and BASE_DP_ID. For quick service acquisition, in addition to FIC, base DP can be decoded using BASE_DP_ID. Other than the content it carries, a base DP is encoded and mapped to a frame in exactly the same way as a normal DP. Therefore, no additional description is required for a base DP. The FIC data is generated and consumed in the Management Layer. The content of FIC data is as described in the Management Layer specification.

The FIC data is optional and the use of FIC is signaled by the FIC_FLAG parameter in the static part of the PLS2. If FIC is used, FIC_FLAG is set to ‘1’ and the signaling field for FIC is defined in the static part of PLS2. Signaled in this field are FIC_VERSION, and FIC_LENGTH_BYTE. FIC uses the same modulation, coding and time interleaving parameters as PLS2. FIC shares the same signaling parameters such as PLS2_MOD and PLS2_FEC. FIC data, if any, is mapped immediately after PLS2 or EAC if any. FIC is not preceded by any normal DPs, auxiliary streams or dummy cells. The method of mapping FIC cells is exactly the same as that of EAC which is again the same as PLS.

Without EAC after PLS, FIC cells are mapped from the next cell of the PLS2 in an increasing order of the cell index as shown in an example in (a). Depending on the FIC data size, FIC cells may be mapped over a few symbols, as shown in (b).

FIC cells follow immediately after the last cell of the PLS2, and mapping continues downward until the last cell index of the last FSS. If the total number of required FIC cells exceeds the number of remaining active carriers of the last FSS, mapping proceeds to the next symbol and continues in exactly the same manner as FSS(s). The next symbol for mapping in this case is the normal data symbol which has more active carriers than a FSS.

If EAS messages are transmitted in the current frame, EAC precedes FIC, and FIC cells are mapped from the next cell of the EAC in an increasing order of the cell index as shown in (b).

After FIC mapping is completed, one or more DPs are mapped, followed by auxiliary streams, if any, and dummy cells.

FIG. 19 illustrates an FEC structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 illustrates an FEC structure according to an embodiment of the present invention before bit interleaving. As above mentioned, Data FEC encoder may perform the FEC encoding on the input BBF to generate FECBLOCK procedure using outer coding (BCH), and inner coding (LDPC). The illustrated FEC structure corresponds to the FECBLOCK. Also, the FECBLOCK and the FEC structure have same value corresponding to a length of LDPC codeword.

The BCH encoding is applied to each BBF (K_(bch) bits), and then LDPC encoding is applied to BCH-encoded BBF (K_(ldpc) bits=N_(bch) bits) as illustrated in FIG. 22.

The value of N_(ldpc) is either 64800 bits (long FECBLOCK) or 16200 bits (short FECBLOCK).

The below table 28 and table 29 show FEC encoding parameters for a long FECBLOCK and a short FECBLOCK, respectively.

TABLE 28 BCH error LDPC correction N_(bch) − Rate N_(ldpc) K_(ldpc) K_(bch) capability K_(bch) 5/15 64800 21600 21408 12 192 6/15 25920 25728 7/15 30240 30048 8/15 34560 34368 9/15 38880 38688 10/15  43200 43008 11/15  47520 47328 12/15  51840 51648 13/15  56160 55968

TABLE 29 BCH error LDPC correction N_(bch) − Rate N_(ldpc) K_(ldpc) K_(bch) capability K_(bch) 5/15 16200 5400 5232 12 168 6/15 6480 6312 7/15 7560 7392 8/15 8640 8472 9/15 9720 9552 10/15  10800 10632 11/15  1880 11712 12/15  12960 12792 13/15  14040 13872

The details of operations of the BCH encoding and LDPC encoding are as follows:

A 12-error correcting BCH code is used for outer encoding of the BBF. The BCH generator polynomial for short FECBLOCK and long FECBLOCK are obtained by multiplying together all polynomials.

LDPC code is used to encode the output of the outer BCH encoding. To generate a completed Bldpc (FECBLOCK), Pldpc (parity bits) is encoded systematically from each Ildpc (BCH-encoded BBF), and appended to Ildpc. The completed Bldpc (FECBLOCK) are expressed as follow equation.

$\begin{matrix} {B_{ldpc} = {\left\lbrack {I_{ldpc}\mspace{14mu} P_{ldpc}} \right\rbrack = \left\lbrack {i_{0},i_{1},\ldots \;,i_{K_{ldpc} - 1},p_{0},p_{1},\ldots \;,p_{N_{ldpc} - L_{ldpc} - 1}} \right\rbrack}} & \left\lbrack {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 2} \right\rbrack \end{matrix}$

The parameters for long FECBLOCK and short FECBLOCK are given in Tables 28 and 29 above, respectively.

The detailed procedure to calculate Nldpc−Kldpc parity bits for long FECBLOCK, is as follows:

1) Initialize the parity bits,

$\begin{matrix} {p_{0} = {p_{1} = {p_{2} = {\ldots = {p_{N_{ldpc} - K_{ldpc} - 1} = 0}}}}} & \left\lbrack {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 3} \right\rbrack \end{matrix}$

2) Accumulate the first information bit—i0, at parity bit addresses specified in the first row of an addresses of parity check matrix. The details of addresses of parity check matrix will be described later. For example, for rate 13/15:

$\begin{matrix} {{p_{983} = {p_{983} \oplus i_{0}}}{p_{2815} = {p_{2815} \oplus i_{0}}}{p_{4837} = {p_{4837} \oplus i_{0}}}{p_{4989} = {p_{4989} \oplus i_{0}}}{p_{6138} = {p_{6138} \oplus i_{0}}}{p_{6458} = {p_{6458} \oplus i_{0}}}{p_{6921} = {p_{6921} \oplus i_{0}}}{p_{6974} = {p_{6974} \oplus i_{0}}}{p_{7572} = {p_{7572} \oplus i_{0}}}{p_{8260} = {p_{8260} \oplus i_{0}}}{p_{8496} = {p_{8496} \oplus i_{0}}}} & \left\lbrack {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 4} \right\rbrack \end{matrix}$

3) For the next 359 information bits, is, s=1, 2, . . . , 359 accumulate is at parity bit addresses using following equation.

{x+(s mod 360)×Q _(ldpc)} mod(N _(ldpc) −K _(ldpc))  [Equation 5]

where x denotes the address of the parity bit accumulator corresponding to the first bit i0, and Qldpc is a code rate dependent constant specified in the addresses of parity check matrix. Continuing with the example, Qldpc=24 for rate 13/15, so for information bit i1, the following operations are performed:

$\begin{matrix} {{p_{1007} = {p_{1007} \oplus i_{1}}}{p_{2839} = {p_{2839} \oplus i_{1}}}{p_{4861} = {p_{4861} \oplus i_{1}}}{p_{5013} = {p_{5013} \oplus i_{1}}}{p_{6162} = {p_{6162} \oplus i_{1}}}{p_{6482} = {p_{6482} \oplus i_{1}}}{p_{6945} = {p_{6945} \oplus i_{1}}}{p_{6998} = {p_{6998} \oplus i_{1}}}{p_{7596} = {p_{7596} \oplus i_{1}}}{p_{8284} = {p_{8284} \oplus i_{1}}}{p_{8520} = {p_{8520} \oplus i_{1}}}} & \left\lbrack {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 6} \right\rbrack \end{matrix}$

4) For the 361st information bit i₃₆₀, the addresses of the parity bit accumulators are given in the second row of the addresses of parity check matrix. In a similar manner the addresses of the parity bit accumulators for the following 359 information bits i_(s), s=361, 362, . . . , 719 are obtained using the equation 6, where x denotes the address of the parity bit accumulator corresponding to the information bit i₃₆₀, i.e., the entries in the second row of the addresses of parity check matrix.

5) In a similar manner, for every group of 360 new information bits, a new row from addresses of parity check matrixes used to find the addresses of the parity bit accumulators.

After all of the information bits are exhausted, the final parity bits are obtained as follows:

6) Sequentially perform the following operations starting with i=1

p _(i) =p _(i) ⊕p _(i−1) ,i=1,2, . . . ,N _(ldpc) −L _(ldpc)−1  [Equation 7]

Herein, final content of p_(i), i=0, 1, . . . N_(ldpc)-K_(ldpc)−1 is equal to the parity bit p_(i).

TABLE 30 Code Rate Q_(ldpc) 5/15 120 6/15 108 7/15 96 8/15 84 9/15 72 10/15  60 11/15  48 12/15  36 13/15  24

This LDPC encoding procedure for a short FECBLOCK is in accordance with the LDPC encoding procedure for the long FECBLOCK, except replacing the table 30 with table 31, and replacing the addresses of parity check matrix for the long FECBLOCK with the addresses of parity check matrix for the short FECBLOCK.

TABLE 31 Code Rate Q_(ldpc) 5/15 30 6/15 27 7/15 24 8/15 21 9/15 18 10/15  15 11/15  12 12/15  9 13/15  6

FIG. 20 illustrates a time interleaving according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(a) to (c) show examples of TI mode.

The time interleaver operates at the DP level. The parameters of time interleaving (TI) may be set differently for each DP.

The following parameters, which appear in part of the PLS2-STAT data, configure the TI:

DP_TI_TYPE (allowed values: 0 or 1): Represents the TI mode; ‘0’ indicates the mode with multiple TI blocks (more than one TI block) per TI group. In this case, one TI group is directly mapped to one frame (no inter-frame interleaving). ‘1’ indicates the mode with only one TI block per TI group. In this case, the TI block may be spread over more than one frame (inter-frame interleaving).

DP_TI_LENGTH: If DP_TI_TYPE=‘0’, this parameter is the number of TI blocks NTI per TI group. For DP_TI_TYPE=‘1’, this parameter is the number of frames PI spread from one TI group.

DP_NUM_BLOCK_MAX (allowed values: 0 to 1023): Represents the maximum number of XFECBLOCKs per TI group.

DP_FRAME_INTERVAL (allowed values: 1, 2, 4, 8): Represents the number of the frames IJUMP between two successive frames carrying the same DP of a given PHY profile.

DP_TI_BYPASS (allowed values: 0 or 1): If time interleaving is not used for a DP, this parameter is set to ‘1’. It is set to ‘0’ if time interleaving is used.

Additionally, the parameter DP_NUM_BLOCK from the PLS2-DYN data is used to represent the number of XFECBLOCKs carried by one TI group of the DP.

When time interleaving is not used for a DP, the following TI group, time interleaving operation, and TI mode are not considered. However, the Delay Compensation block for the dynamic configuration information from the scheduler will still be required. In each DP, the XFECBLOCKs received from the SSD/MIMO encoding are grouped into TI groups. That is, each TI group is a set of an integer number of XFECBLOCKs and will contain a dynamically variable number of XFECBLOCKs. The number of XFECBLOCKs in the TI group of index n is denoted by NxBLOCK_Group(n) and is signaled as DP_NUM_BLOCK in the PLS2-DYN data. Note that NxBLOCK_Group(n) may vary from the minimum value of 0 to the maximum value NxBLOCK_Group_MAX (corresponding to DP_NUM_BLOCK_MAX) of which the largest value is 1023.

Each TI group is either mapped directly onto one frame or spread over PI frames. Each TI group is also divided into more than one TI blocks(NTI), where each TI block corresponds to one usage of time interleaver memory. The TI blocks within the TI group may contain slightly different numbers of XFECBLOCKs. If the TI group is divided into multiple TI blocks, it is directly mapped to only one frame. There are three options for time interleaving (except the extra option of skipping the time interleaving) as shown in the below table 32.

TABLE 32 Modes Descriptions Option-1 Each TI group contains one TI block and is mapped directly to one frame as shown in (a). This option is signaled in the PLS2- STAT by DP_TI_TYPE = ‘0’ and DP_TI_LENGTH = ‘1’(N_(TI) = 1). Option-2 Each TI group contains one TI block and is mapped to more than one frame. (b) shows an example, where one TI group is mapped to two frames, i.e., DP_TI_LENGTH = ‘2’ (P_(I) = 2) and DP_FRAME_INTERVAL (I_(JUMP) = 2). This provides greater time diversity for low data-rate services. This option is signaled in the PLS2-STAT by DP_TI_TYPE = ‘1’. Option-3 Each TI group is divided into multiple TI blocks and is mapped directly to one frame as shown in (c). Each TI block may use full TI memory, so as to provide the maximum bit-rate for a DP. This option is signaled in the PLS2-STAT signaling by DP_TI_TYPE = ‘0’ and DP_TI_LENGTH = N_(TI), while P_(I) = 1.

Typically, the time interleaver will also act as a buffer for DP data prior to the process of frame building. This is achieved by means of two memory banks for each DP. The first TI-block is written to the first bank. The second TI-block is written to the second bank while the first bank is being read from and so on.

The TI is a twisted row-column block interleaver. For the sth TI block of the nth TI group, the number of rows N_(r) of a TI memory is equal to the number of cells N_(cells), i.e., N_(r)=N_(cells) while the number of columns N_(c) is equal to the number N_(xBLOCK_TI) (n, s).

FIG. 21 illustrates the basic operation of a twisted row-column block interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 (a) shows a writing operation in the time interleaver and FIG. 21(b) shows a reading operation in the time interleaver The first XFECBLOCK is written column-wise into the first column of the TI memory, and the second XFECBLOCK is written into the next column, and so on as shown in (a). Then, in the interleaving array, cells are read out diagonal-wise. During diagonal-wise reading from the first row (rightwards along the row beginning with the left-most column) to the last row, N_(r) cells are read out as shown in (b). In detail, assuming z_(n,s,i)(i=0, . . . , N_(r)N_(c)) as the TI memory cell position to be read sequentially, the reading process in such an interleaving array is performed by calculating the row index R_(n,s,i), the column index C_(n,s,i), and the associated twisting parameter T_(n,s,i) as follows equation.

$\begin{matrix} {{{GENERATE}\left( {R_{n,s,i},C_{n,s,i}} \right)} = \left\{ {{R_{n,s,i} = {{mod}\left( {i,N_{r}} \right)}},{T_{n,s,i} = {{mod}\left( {{S_{shift} \times R_{n,s,i}},N_{c}} \right)}},{C_{n,s,i} = {{mod}\left( {{T_{n,s,i} + \left\lfloor \frac{i}{N_{r}} \right\rfloor},N_{c}} \right)}}} \right\}} & \left\lbrack {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 8} \right\rbrack \end{matrix}$

where S_(shift) is a common shift value for the diagonal-wise reading process regardless of N_(xBLOCK TI) (n,s), and it is determined by N_(xBLOCK TI MAX) given in the PLS2-STAT as follows equation.

$\begin{matrix} {{for}\mspace{14mu} \left\{ {\begin{matrix} {{N_{{{xBLOCK}\_ {TI}}{\_ {MAX}}}^{\prime} = {N_{{{xBLOCK}\_ {TI}}{\_ {MAX}}} + 1}},} & {{{if}\mspace{14mu} N_{{{xBLOCK}\_ {TI}}{\_ {MAX}}}{mod}\; 2} = 0} \\ {{N_{{{xBLOCK}\_ {TI}}{\_ {MAX}}}^{\prime} = N_{{{xBLOCK}\_ {TI}}{\_ {MAX}}}},} & {{{if}\mspace{14mu} N_{{{xBLOCK}\_ {TI}}{\_ {MAX}}}{mod}\; 2} = 1} \end{matrix},{S_{shift} = \frac{N_{{{xBLOCK}\_ {TI}}{\_ {MAX}}}^{\prime} - 1}{2}}} \right.} & \left\lbrack {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 9} \right\rbrack \end{matrix}$

As a result, the cell positions to be read are calculated by a coordinate as C_(n,s,i)=N_(r)C_(n,s,i)+R_(n,s,i).

FIG. 22 illustrates an operation of a twisted row-column block interleaver according to another embodiment of the present invention.

More specifically, FIG. 22 illustrates the interleaving array in the TI memory for each TI group, including virtual XFECBLOCKs when N_(xBLOCK_TI) (0,0)=3, N_(xBLOCK_TI) (1,0)=6, N_(xBLOCK TI)(2,0)=5.

The variable number N_(xBLOCK TI) (n,s)=N_(r) will be less than or equal to N_(xBLOCK_TI_MAX)′. Thus, in order to achieve a single-memory deinterleaving at the receiver side, regardless of N_(xBLOCL TI)(n,s), the interleaving array for use in a twisted row-column block interleaver is set to the size of N_(r)×N_(c)=N_(cells)×N_(xBLOCK_TI_MAX)′ by inserting the virtual XFECBLOCKs into the TI memory and the reading process is accomplished as follow equation.

$\begin{matrix} {{{p = 0};}{{{{for}\mspace{14mu} i} = 0};{i < {N_{cells}N_{{{xBLOCK}\_ {TI}}{\_ {MAX}}}^{\prime}}};{i = {i + 1}}}\left\{ {{{GENERATE}\left( {R_{n,s,i},C_{n,s,i}} \right)};{V_{i} = {{{N_{r}C_{n,s,j}} + {R_{n,s,j}~{if}\mspace{14mu} V_{i}}} < {{N_{{xBLOCK}\_ {TI}}\left( {n,s} \right)}~\left\{ {~~}{{Z_{n,s,p} = V_{i}};{p = {p + 1}};}{~~} \right\}}}}} \right\}} & \left\lbrack {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 10} \right\rbrack \end{matrix}$

The number of TI groups is set to 3. The option of time interleaver is signaled in the PLS2-STAT data by DP_TI_TYPE=‘0’, DP_FRAME_INTERVAL=‘1’, and DP_TI_LENGTH=‘1’, i.e., NTI=1, IJUMP=1, and PI=1. The number of XFECBLOCKs, each of which has Ncells=30 cells, per TI group is signaled in the PLS2-DYN data by NxBLOCK_TI(0,0)=3, NxBLOCK_TI(1,0)=6, and NxBLOCK_TI(2,0)=5, respectively. The maximum number of XFECBLOCK is signaled in the PLS2-STAT data by NxBLOCK_Group_MAX, which leads to └N_(xBLOCK_Group_MAX)/N_(TI)┘=N_(xBLOCK_TI_MAX)=6.

FIG. 23 illustrates a diagonal-wise reading pattern of a twisted row-column block interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention.

More specifically FIG. 23 shows a diagonal-wise reading pattern from each interleaving array with parameters of N_(xBLOCK TI MAX)′=7 and Sshift=(7−1)/2=3. Note that in the reading process shown as pseudocode above, if V_(i)≥N_(cells)N_(xBLOCK_TI)((n,s) the value of Vi is skipped and the next calculated value of Vi is used.

FIG. 24 illustrates interleaved XFECBLOCKs from each interleaving array according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 illustrates the interleaved XFECBLOCKs from each interleaving array with parameters of N_(xBLOCK_TI_MAX)=7 and Sshift=3.

FIG. 25 illustrates signaling for single-memory deinterleaving irrespective of the number of symbols in a frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As described above, the frequency interleaver according to the present invention performs interleaving using different interleaving sequences in a plurality of OFDM symbols, but the frequency deinterleaver may perform single-memory deinterleaving on the received OFDM symbols.

The present invention proposes a method for performing single-memory deinterleaving by the frequency deinterleaver irrespective of whether the number of OFDM symbols in one frame is an even number or an odd number. To this end, the above-described architecture of the frequency interleaver may operate differently depending on whether the number of OFDM symbols is an even number or an odd number. Furthermore, signaling information related thereto may be additionally defined in the above-described preamble and/or the physical layer signal (PLS). As such, single-memory deinterleaving is not limited to a case in which the number of OFDM symbols is an even number, and may always be enabled.

Here, the PLS may be transmitted in a frame starting symbol (FSS) of every frame. Alternatively, according to another embodiment, the PLS may be transmitted in the first OFDM symbol. Otherwise, based on whether the PLS is present, signaling information corresponding to the PLS may be completely transmitted in the preamble. Or, signaling information corresponding to the preamble and/or the PLS may be transmitted in bootstrap information. The bootstrap information may be an information part located in front of the preamble.

Information about, for example, a processing operation used by the frequency interleaver of the transmitter may include an FI_mode field and an N_sym field.

The FI_mode field may be a 1-bit field which can be located in the preamble. The FI_mode field may indicate an interleaving scheme used in the FSS or the first OFDM symbol of every frame.

The interleaving scheme indicated as the FI_mode field may include FI scheme #1 and FI scheme #2.

FI scheme #1 can indicate that the frequency interleaver of the transmitter performs random writing operation and then linear reading operation on the FSS. This case may correspond to a case in which the FI_mode field value is 0. The random writing or linear reading operation may be performed in or from memory using a value generated by an arbitrary random sequence generator using, for example, a pseudo-random binary sequence (PRBS). Here, linear reading may refer to sequentially reading operation.

FI scheme #2 can indicate that the transmitter performs linear writing operation and then random reading operation on the FSS. This case may correspond to a case in which the FI_mode field value is 1. Likewise, the linear writing or random reading operation may be performed in or from memory using a value generated by an arbitrary random sequence generator using, for example, PRBS. Here, linear writing may refer to a sequentially writing operation.

In addition, the FI_mode field may indicate an interleaving scheme used in a frame edge symbol (FES) or the last OFDM symbol of every frame. The interleaving scheme applied to the FES may be indicated differently from the value of the N_sym field transmitted by the PLS. That is, the interleaving scheme indicated as the FI_mode field may differ depending on whether the number of OFDM symbols is an odd number or an even number. Mapping information between the two fields may be predefined as a table by the transmitter and the receiver.

The FI_mode field may be defined and transmitted in a part of the frame other than the preamble according to another embodiment.

The N_sym field may be a field which can be located in the PLS part. The number of bits of the N_sym field is variable according to embodiments. The N_sym field may indicate number of OFDM symbols included in one frame. As such, the receiver can acquire information about whether the number of OFDM symbols is an even number or an odd number.

Operation of the frequency deinterleaver corresponding to the frequency interleaver irrespective of the number of OFDM symbols in one frame is as described below. This frequency deinterleaver may perform single-memory deinterleaving by utilizing the proposed signaling fields irrespective of whether the number of OFDM symbols is an even number or an odd number.

Initially, the frequency deinterleaver may perform frequency deinterleaving on the FSS using information of the FI_mode field of the preamble because the frequency interleaving scheme used in the FSS is indicated as the FI_mode.

The frequency deinterleaver may perform frequency deinterleaving on the FES using signaling information of the FI_mode field and signaling information of the N_sym field of the PLS. In this case, the mapping information between the two fields may be acquired using the predefined table. A description of the predefined table will be given below.

Overall deinterleaving operation on the other symbols may be performed inversely from the interleaving operation of the transmitter. That is, on a pair of contiguously input OFDM symbols, the frequency deinterleaver may perform deinterleaving using one interleaving sequence. Here, the interleaving sequence may be an interleaving sequence used by the frequency interleaver for reading & writing. The frequency deinterleaver may perform reading & writing operation inversely using the interleaving sequence.

However, the frequency deinterleaver according to the present invention may not use a ping pong architecture using double memories. The frequency deinterleaver may perform deinterleaving on contiguously input OFDM symbols using a single memory. As such, the efficiency of using memory by the frequency deinterleaver may be increased.

FIG. 26 illustrates FI schemes of FSS in signaling for single-memory deinterleaving irrespective of the number of symbols in a frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

An interleaving scheme applied to frequency interleaving operation may be determined using the above-described FI_mode field and the N_sym field.

In the case of FSS, when the number of OFDM symbols indicated as the N_sym field is an even number, FI scheme #1 may be performed on the FSS irrespective of the FI_mode field value.

When the number of OFDM symbols indicated as the N_sym field is an odd number, FI scheme #1 may be applied to the FSS if the FI_mode field has a value of 0, and FI scheme #2 may be applied to the FSS if the FI_mode field has a value of 1. That is, when the number of OFDM symbols is an odd number, FI schemes #1 and #2 may be alternately applied to the FSS symbols for frequency interleaving.

FIG. 27 illustrates operation of a reset mode in signaling for single-memory deinterleaving irrespective of the number of symbols in a frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

For frequency interleaving on FES, the above-described symbol offset generator may adopt a reset mode as a new concept. The reset mode may refer to a mode in which a symbol offset value generated by the symbol offset generator is ‘0’.

For frequency interleaving on FES, whether to use the reset mode may be determined using the above-described FI_mode field and the N_sym field.

When the number of OFDM symbols indicated as the N_sym field is an even number, the reset mode of the symbol offset generator may not operate (off) irrespective of the value of the FI_mode field.

When the number of OFDM symbols indicated as the N_sym field is an odd number, if the value of the FI_mode field is 0, the symbol offset generator may operate in the reset mode (on). Otherwise, if the value of the FI_mode field is 1, the reset mode of the symbol offset generator may not operate (off). That is, when the number of OFDM symbols is an odd number, the reset mode may be alternately turned on and off for frequency interleaving.

FIG. 28 illustrates equations indicating input and output of the frequency interleaver in signaling for single-memory deinterleaving irrespective of the number of symbols in a frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As described above, OFDM symbol pairs of memory bank-A and memory bank-B may be processed through the above-described interleaving operation. As described above, for interleaving, a variety of different interleaving seeds generated by cyclically shifting one main interleaving seed may be used. Here, the interleaving seed may also be called an interleaving sequence. Alternatively, the interleaving seed may also be called an interleaving address value, an address value, or an interleaving address. Here, the term “interleaving address value(s)” can be used for referring plural address values, or for referring a interleaving seed which is a singular. That is, depending on embodiments, interleaving address value(s) can mean H(p) itself, or each addresses belong to H(p).

Input of frequency interleaving to be interleaved within one OFDM symbol may be indicated as Om,1 (t50010). Here, data cells may be indicated as xm,1,0, . . . xm,1, Ndata−1. Meanwhile, p may indicate a cell index, 1 may indicate an OFDM symbol index, and m may indicate a frame index. That is, xm,l,p may indicate a p-th data cell of an 1-th OFDM symbol of an m-th frame. Ndata may indicate the number of data cells. Nsym may indicate the number of symbols (frame signaling symbols, normal data symbols, or frame edge symbols).

Data cells which are interleaved based on the above-described operation may be indicated as Pm,1 (t50020). The interleaved data cells may be indicated as vm,1,0, . . . vm,1,Ndata-1. Meanwhile, p, 1, and m may have the above-described index values.

FIG. 29 illustrates equations of a logical operation mechanism of frequency interleaving based on FI scheme #1 and FI scheme #2 in signaling for single-memory deinterleaving irrespective of the number of symbols in a frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A description is now given of frequency interleaving based on FI scheme #1. As described above, frequency interleaving may be performed using an interleaving sequence (interleaving address) of each memory bank.

Interleaving operation on an even symbol (j mod 2=0) may be mathematically expressed as given by equation t51010. On input data x, frequency interleaving may be performed using the interleaving sequence (interleaving address) to acquire output v. Here, p-th input data x may be permuted to be identical to H(p)-th output data v.

That is, on an even symbol (the first symbol), random writing operation may be performed using the interleaving sequence, and then linear reading operation for sequentially reading data may be performed. Here, the interleaving sequence (interleaving address) may be a value generated by an arbitrary random sequence generator using, for example, PRBS.

Interleaving operation on an odd symbol (j mod 2=1) may be mathematically expressed as given by equation t51020. On input data x, frequency interleaving may be performed using the interleaving sequence (interleaving address) to acquire output v. Here, H(p)-th input data x may be permuted to be identical to p-th output data v. That is, compared to the interleaving process performed on the even symbol, the interleaving sequence (interleaving address) may be applied inversely.

That is, on an odd symbol (the second symbol), a linear writing operation for sequentially writing data in memory may be performed, and then random reading operation for randomly reading the data using the interleaving sequence may be performed. Likewise, the interleaving sequence (interleaving address) may be a value generated by an arbitrary random sequence generator using, for example, PRBS.

A description is now given of frequency interleaving based on FI scheme #2.

In the case of frequency interleaving based on FI scheme #2, operation on an even/odd symbol may be performed inversely from the operation based on FI scheme #1.

That is, on the even symbol, linear writing operation may be performed and then random reading operation may be performed as given by equation t51020. In addition, on the odd symbol, random writing operation may be performed and then linear reading operation may be performed as given by equation t51010. A detailed description thereof is the same as that given above in relation to FI scheme #1.

The symbol index 1 may be indicated as 0, 1, . . . , N_(sym)−1, and the cell index p may be indicated as 0, 1, . . . , N_(data)−1. According to another embodiment, the frequency interleaving scheme on an even symbol and the frequency interleaving scheme on an odd symbol may be switched. In addition, according to another embodiment, the frequency interleaving scheme based on FI scheme #1 and the frequency interleaving scheme based on FI scheme #2 may be switched.

FIG. 30 illustrates an example in which the number of symbols is an even number in signaling for single-memory deinterleaving irrespective of the number of symbols in a frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the current embodiment, the N_sym field may indicate that the number of OFDM symbols in one frame is an even number. The current embodiment assumes that one frame includes one preamble and eight OFDM symbols. According to another embodiment, bootstrap information may be further included in front of the preamble. The bootstrap information is not illustrated.

In the current embodiment, one frame may include one FSS and one FES. Here, it is assumed that the FSS and the FES have the same length. In addition, since information of the N_sym field is transmitted in the PLS part, the frequency deinterleaver may acquire the corresponding information after decoding the FSS. Furthermore, the current embodiment assumes that the N_sym field is completely decoded before operation on the FES is performed.

In the FSS of each frame, the value of the symbol offset generator may be reset to 0. Accordingly, the first and second symbols may be processed using the same interleaving sequence. In addition, sequence #0 may be used for operation whenever each frame starts. After that, sequences #1 and #2 may be sequentially used for operation of the frequency interleaver/deinterleaver.

FIG. 31 illustrates an example in which the number of symbols is an even number in signaling for single-memory deinterleaving irrespective of the number of symbols in a frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the first frame, information about an interleaving scheme of the FSS may be acquired from the FI_mode field of the preamble. In the current embodiment, since the number of OFDM symbols is an even number, only FI scheme #1 may be used.

Then, the FSS may be decoded and thus N_sym information may be acquired. The N_sym information indicates that the number of symbols in the current frame is an even number. After that, the acquired FI_mode information and the N_sym information may be used when the frequency deinterleaver decodes the FES. Since the number of symbols is an even number, the symbol offset generator does not operate in the above-described reset mode. That is, the reset mode may be in an off state.

Subsequently, even in another frame, since an even number of OFDM symbols are included, the frequency deinterleaver may operate in the same manner. That is, the FI scheme to be used in the FSS is FI scheme #1, and the reset mode to be used in the FES may be in an off state.

FIG. 32 illustrates an example in which the number of symbols is an odd number in signaling for single-memory deinterleaving irrespective of the number of symbols in a frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the current embodiment, the N_sym field may indicate that the number of OFDM symbols in one frame is an odd number. The current embodiment assumes that one frame includes one preamble and seven OFDM symbols. According to another embodiment, bootstrap information may be further included in front of the preamble. The bootstrap information is not illustrated.

In the current embodiment, like the case in which the number of symbols is an even number, one frame may include one FSS and one FES. Here, it is assumed that the FSS and the FES have the same length. In addition, since information of the N_sym field is transmitted in the PLS part, the frequency deinterleaver may acquire the corresponding information after decoding the FSS. Furthermore, the current embodiment assumes that the N_sym field is completely decoded before operation on the FES is performed.

In the FSS of each frame, the value of the symbol offset generator may be reset to 0. Furthermore, in the FES of an arbitrary frame, the symbol offset generator may operate in a reset mode based on the values of the FI_mode field and the N_sym field. Accordingly, in the FES of the arbitrary frame, the value of the symbol offset generator may be reset or not reset to 0. These reset operations may be alternately performed on frames.

The symbol offset generator may be reset in the last symbol of the first frame, i.e., the FES. Accordingly, the interleaving sequence may be reset to sequence #0. As such, the frequency interleaver/deinterleaver may process the corresponding FES based on sequence #0 (t54010).

In the FSS of a subsequent frame, the symbol offset generator may be reset again and thus sequence #0 may be used (t54010). The symbol offset generator may not be reset in the FES of the second frame (frame #1), and may be reset again in the FES of the third frame (frame #2).

FIG. 33 illustrates an example in which the number of symbols is an odd number in signaling for single-memory deinterleaving irrespective of the number of symbols in a frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the first frame, information about an interleaving scheme of the FSS may be acquired from the FI_mode field of the preamble. Since the number of OFDM symbols is an odd number, FI scheme #1 and FI scheme #2 may be used. In the current embodiment, FI scheme #1 is used in the first frame.

Then, the FSS may be decoded and thus N_sym information may be acquired. The N_sym information indicates that the number of symbols in the current frame is an odd number. After that, the acquired FI_mode information and the N_sym information may be used when the frequency deinterleaver decodes the FES. Since the number of symbols is an odd number and FI scheme #1 is used, the FI_mode field value is 0. Since the FI_mode is 0, the symbol offset generator may operate in the above-described reset mode. That is, the reset mode may be in an on state.

The symbol offset generator may operate in the reset mode and thus may be reset to 0. Since the FI_mode field value is 1 in the second frame, this indicates that the FSS is processed based on FI scheme #2. The N_sym field indicates that the number of symbols is an odd number. In the second frame, since the FI_mode field value is 1 and the number of symbols is an odd number, the symbol offset generator may not operate in the reset mode.

In this manner, the FI scheme to be used in the FSS may be alternately set to FI schemes #1 and #2. Furthermore, the reset mode to be used in the FES may be alternately set to be on and off. According to another embodiment, the settings may not be changed every frame.

FIG. 34 illustrates operation of the frequency deinterleaver in signaling for single-memory deinterleaving irrespective of the number of symbols in a frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The frequency deinterleaver may perform frequency deinterleaving using information of the predefined FI_mode field and/or the N_sym field. As described above, the frequency deinterleaver may operate using a single memory. Basically, frequency deinterleaving may be inverse operation of the frequency interleaving operation performed by the transmitter, to restore the order of data.

As described above, frequency deinterleaving on the FSS may be performed based on information about the FI scheme which is acquired from the FI_mode field and the N_sym field of the preamble. Frequency deinterleaving on the FES may be performed based on information indicating whether to the reset mode operates, which is acquired using the FI_mode field and the N_sym field.

That is, on a pair of input OFDM symbols, the frequency deinterleaver may perform inverse operation of the reading/writing operation of the frequency interleaver. One interleaving sequence may be used in this operation.

However, as described above, the frequency interleaver follows the ping pong architecture using double memories, but the frequency deinterleaver may perform deinterleaving using a single memory. This single-memory frequency deinterleaving operation may be performed using information of the FI_mode field and the N_sym field. This information may allow single-memory frequency deinterleaving even on a frame having an odd number of OFDM symbols irrespective of the number of OFDM symbols.

The frequency interleaver according to the present invention may perform frequency interleaving on all data cells of the OFDM symbols. The frequency interleaver may map the data cells to available data carriers of the symbols.

The frequency interleaver according to the present invention may operate in different interleaving modes based on FFT size. For example, when the FFT size is 32K, the frequency interleaver may perform random writing/linear reading operation on an even symbol and perform linear writing/random reading operation on an odd symbol as in FI scheme #1 described above. Alternatively, when the FFT size is 16K or 8K, the frequency interleaver may perform linear reading/random writing operation on all symbols irrespective of an even/odd number.

The FFT size, which determines whether to switch the interleaving modes, may vary according to embodiments. That is, interleaving as in FI scheme #1 may be performed in the case of 32K and 16K, and interleaving irrespective of an even/odd number may be performed in the case of 8K. Alternatively, interleaving as in FI scheme #1 may be performed for all FFT sizes, or interleaving irrespective of an even/odd number may be performed for all FFT sizes. Otherwise, according to another embodiment, interleaving as in FI scheme #2 may be performed for a specific FFT size.

This frequency interleaving operation may be performed using the above-described interleaving sequence (interleaving address). The interleaving sequence may be variously generated using an offset value as described above. Alternatively, address check may be performed to generate various interleaving sequences.

FIG. 35 illustrates the concept of a variable bit-rate system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Specifically, a transport superframe, shown in FIG. 35, is composed of NTI_NUM TI groups and each TI group can include N BLOCK_TI FEC blocks. In this case, TI groups may respectively include different numbers of FEC blocks. The TI group according to an embodiment of the present invention can be defined as a block for performing time interleaving and can be used in the same meaning as the aforementioned TI block or IF. That is, one IF can include at least one TI block and the number of FEC blocks in the TI block is variable.

When TI groups include different numbers of FEC blocks, the present invention performs interleaving on the TI groups using one twisted row-column block interleaving rule in an embodiment. Accordingly, the receiver can perform deinterleaving using a single memory. A description will be given of an input FEC block memory arrangement method and reading operation of the time interleaver in consideration of variable bit-rate (VBR) transmission in which the number of FEC blocks can be changed per TI group.

FIG. 36 illustrates writing and reading operations of block interleaving according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed descriptions about this figure was described before.

FIG. 37 shows equations representing block interleaving according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The equations shown in the figure represent block interleaving applied per TI group. As expressed by the equations, shift values can be respectively calculated in a case in which the number of FEC blocks included in a TI group is an odd number and a case in which the number of FEC blocks included in a TI group is an even number. That is, block interleaving according to an embodiment of the present invention can calculate a shift value after making the number of FEC blocks be an odd-number.

A time interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention can determine parameters related to interleaving on the basis of a TI group having a maximum number of FEC blocks in the corresponding superframe. Accordingly, the receiver can perform deinterleaving using a single memory. Here, for a TI group having a smaller number of FEC blocks than the maximum number of FEC blocks, virtual FEC blocks corresponding to a difference between the number of FEC blocks and the maximum number of FEC blocks can be added.

Virtual FEC blocks according to an embodiment of the present invention can be inserted before actual FEC blocks. Subsequently, the time interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention can perform interleaving on the TI groups using one twisted row-column block interleaving rule in consideration of the virtual FEC blocks. In addition, the time interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention can perform the aforementioned skip operation when a memory-index corresponding to virtual FEC blocks is generated during reading operation. In the following writing operation, the number of FEC blocks of input TI groups is matched to the number of FEC blocks of output TI groups. Consequently, according to time interleaving according to an embodiment of the present invention, loss of data rate of data actually transmitted may be prevented through skip operation even if virtual FEC blocks are inserted in order to perform efficient single-memory deinterleaving in the receiver.

FIG. 38 illustrates virtual FEC blocks according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The left side of the figure shows parameters indicating a maximum number of FEC blocks in a TI group, the actual number of FEC blocks included in a TI group and a difference between the maximum number of FEC blocks and the actual number of FEC blocks, and equations for deriving the number of virtual FEC blocks.

The right side of the figure shows an embodiment of inserting virtual FEC blocks into a TI group. In this case, the virtual FEC blocks can be inserted before actual FEC blocks, as described above.

FIG. 39 shows equations representing reading operation after insertion of virtual FEC blocks according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Skip operation illustrated in the figure can skip virtual FEC blocks in reading operation.

FIG. 40 is a flowchart illustrating a time interleaving process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A time interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention can setup initial values (S67000).

Then, the time interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention can perform writing operation on actual FEC blocks in consideration of virtual FEC blocks (S67100).

The time interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention can generate a temporal TI address (S67200).

Subsequently, the time interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention can evaluate the availability of the generated TI reading address (S67300). Then, the time interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention can generate a final TI reading address (S67400).

The time interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention can read the actual FEC blocks (S67500).

FIG. 41 shows equations representing a process of determining a shift value and a maximum TI block size according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The figure shows an embodiment in which the number of TI groups is 2, the number of cells in a TI group is 30, the number of FEC blocks included in the first TI group is 5 and the number of FEC blocks included in the second TI block is 6. While a maximum number of FEC blocks is 6, 6 is an even number. Accordingly, a maximum number of FEC blocks, which is adjusted in order to obtain the shift value, can be 7 and the shift value can be calculated as 4.

FIGS. 42 to 44 illustrate a TI process of the embodiment described before.

FIG. 42 illustrates writing operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 42 shows writing operation for the two TI groups described before.

A block shown in the left side of the figure represents a TI memory address array and blocks shown in the right side of the figure illustrate writing operation when two virtual FEC blocks and one virtual FEC block are respectively inserted into two continuous TI groups. Since the adjusted maximum number of FEC blocks is 7, as described above, two virtual FEC blocks are inserted into the first TI group and one virtual FEC block is inserted into the second TI group.

FIG. 43 illustrates reading operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A block shown in the left side of the figure represents a TI memory address array and blocks shown in the right side of the figure illustrate reading operation when two virtual FEC blocks and one virtual FEC block are respectively inserted into two continuous TI groups. In this case, reading operation can be performed on the virtual FEC blocks in the same manner as the reading operation performed on actual FEC blocks.

FIG. 44 illustrates a result of skip operation in reading operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, virtual FEC blocks can be skipped in two TI groups.

FIGS. 45 to 46 illustrate time deinterleaving corresponding to a reverse of TI described before.

Specifically, FIG. 45 illustrates time deinterleaving for the first TI group and FIG. 46 illustrates time deinterleaving for the second TI group.

FIG. 45 shows a writing process of time deinterleaving according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A left block in the figure shows a TI memory address array, a middle block shows the first TI group input to a time deinterleaver and a right block shows a writing process performed in consideration of virtual FEC blocks that are skipped with respect to the first TI group.

As shown in the figure, two virtual FEC blocks skipped during TI can be restored for correct reading operation in the writing process. In this case, the positions and quantity of the skipped two virtual FEC blocks can be estimated through an arbitrary algorithm.

FIG. 46 illustrates a writing process of time deinterleaving according to another embodiment of the present invention.

A left block in the figure shows a TI memory address array, a middle block shows the second TI group input to the time deinterleaver and a right block shows a writing process performed in consideration of virtual FEC blocks that are skipped with respect to the second TI group.

As shown in the figure, one virtual FEC block skipped during TI can be restored for correct reading operation in the writing process. In this case, the position and quantity of the skipped one virtual FEC block can be estimated through an arbitrary algorithm.

FIG. 47 shows equations representing reading operation of time deinterleaving according to another embodiment of the present invention.

A TDI shift value used in the receiver can be determined by a shift value used in the transmitter, and skip operation can skip virtual FEC blocks in reading operation, similarly to skip operation performed in the transmitter.

FIG. 48 is a flowchart illustrating a time deinterleaving process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A time deinterleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention can setup initial values (S75000).

Then, the time deinterleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention can perform writing operation on actual FEC blocks in consideration of virtual FEC blocks (S75100).

Subsequently, the time deinterleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention can generate a temporal TDI reading address (S75200).

The time deinterleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention can evaluate the availability of the generated TDI reading address (S75300). Then, the time deinterleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention can generate a final TDI reading address (S75400).

Subsequently, the time deinterleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention can read the actual FEC blocks (S75500).

FIG. 49 is a table showing an interleaving type applied based on the number of PLPs. The time interleaver according to an embodiment of the present invention may determine an interleaving type thereof based on the value of PLP_NUM. PLP_NUM is a signaling field indicating a PLP mode. When the value of PLP_NUM is 1, the PLP mode is the single PLP mode. The single PLP mode according to an embodiment of the present invention may be applied to only the convolutional interleaver.

When the value of PLP_NUM is greater than 1, the PLP mode is the multiple PLP mode. The multiple PLP mode according to an embodiment of the present invention may be applied to the convolutional interleaver and the block interleave. In this case, the convolutional interleaver may perform inter frame interleaving, and the block interleaver may perform intra frame interleaving. A detailed description of inter frame interleaving and intra frame interleaving is the same as that given above.

FIG. 50 is a block diagram including a first embodiment of the above-described hybrid time interleaver structure. The hybrid time interleaver according to the first embodiment may include a block interleaver (BI) and a convolutional interleaver (CI). The time interleaver according to the present invention may be located between a BICM chain block and a frame builder. The BICM chain block illustrated in FIGS. 50 and 51 may include the processing blocks 5000 of the BICM block illustrated in FIG. 5, excluding the time interleaver 5050. The frame builder illustrated in FIGS. 50 and 51 may perform function the same as that of the frame building block 1020 of FIG. 1.

As described above, whether to apply the block interleaver of the hybrid time interleaver structure according to the first embodiment may be determined based on the value of PLP_NUM. That is, when PLP_NUM=1, the block interleaver is not applied (block interleaver off) and only the convolutional interleaver is applied. When PLP_NUM>1, both of the block interleaver and the convolutional interleaver may be applied (block interleaver on). The structure and operation of the convolutional interleaver applied when PLP_NUM>1 may be the same as or similar to those of the convolutional interleaver applied when PLP_NUM=1.

FIG. 51 is a block diagram including a second embodiment of the above-described hybrid time interleaver structure.

Operations of blocks included in the hybrid time interleaver structure according to the second embodiment are the same as those described above in relation to FIG. 50. Whether to apply the block interleaver of the hybrid time interleaver structure according to the second embodiment may be determined based on the value of PLP_NUM. The blocks of the hybrid time interleaver according to the second embodiment may perform operations according to embodiments of the present invention. In this case, the structure and operation of a convolutional interleaver applied when PLP_NUM=1 may differ from those of a convolutional interleaver applied when PLP_NUM>1.

FIG. 52 is a block diagram including a first embodiment of the hybrid time deinterleaver structure.

The hybrid time deinterleaver according to the first embodiment may perform operation inversely corresponding to the operation performed by the above-described hybrid time interleaver according to the first embodiment. Accordingly, the hybrid time deinterleaver of FIG. 52 according to the first embodiment may include a convolutional deinterleaver (CDI) and a block deinterleaver (BDI).

The structure and operation of the convolutional deinterleaver applied when PLP_NUM>1 may be the same as or similar to those of the convolutional deinterleaver applied when PLP_NUM=1.

Whether to apply the block deinterleaver of the hybrid time deinterleaver structure according to the first embodiment may be determined based on the value of PLP_NUM. That is, when PLP_NUM=1, the block deinterleaver is not applied (block deinterleaver off) and only the convolutional deinterleaver is applied.

The convolutional deinterleaver of the hybrid time deinterleaver may perform inter frame deinterleaving, and the block deinterleaver may perform intra frame deinterleaving. A detailed description of inter frame deinterleaving and intra frame deinterleaving is the same as that given above.

A BICM decoding block illustrated in FIGS. 52 and 53 may perform operation inversely corresponding to the operation performed by the BICM chain block of FIGS. 50 and 51.

FIG. 53 is a block diagram including a second embodiment of the hybrid time deinterleaver structure.

The hybrid time deinterleaver according to the second embodiment may perform operation inversely corresponding to the operation performed by the above-described hybrid time interleaver according to the second embodiment. Operations of blocks included in the hybrid time deinterleaver structure according to the second embodiment are the same as those described above in relation to FIG. 52.

Whether to apply the block deinterleaver of the hybrid time deinterleaver structure according to the second embodiment may be determined based on the value of PLP_NUM. Blocks of the hybrid time deinterleaver according to the second embodiment may perform operations according to embodiments of the present invention. In this case, the structure and operation of a convolutional deinterleaver applied when PLP_NUM=1 may differ from those of a convolutional deinterleaver applied when PLP_NUM>1.

FIG. 54 illustrates a hybrid broadcast reception device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The hybrid broadcast system may transmit a broadcast signal in conjunction with a terrestrial broadcast network and an Internet network. The hybrid broadcast reception device may receive a broadcast signal through a terrestrial broadcast network (broadcast) and an Internet network (broadband). The hybrid broadcast reception device may include a physical layer module, a physical layer I/F module, a service/content acquisition controller, an Internet access control module, a signaling decoder, a service signaling manager, a service guide manager, an App signaling manager, an alert signal manager, an alert signal parser, a targeting signal parser, a streaming media engine, a non-real-time file processor, a component synchronizer, a targeting processor, an application processor, an A/V processor, a device manager, a data sharing and communication unit, a redistribution module, a companion device and/or an external module.

The physical layer module(s) may receive and process broadcast-related signals through a terrestrial broadcast channel, convert the same into appropriate forms, and transmit the converted signals to the physical layer I/F module.

The physical layer I/F module(s) may acquire IP datagrams from the information obtained from the physical layer module. In addition, the physical layer I/F module may convert the acquired IP datagram or the like into a specific frame (for example, RS frame, GSE).

The service/content acquisition controller may perform control operations for acquiring services, content and signaling data associated therewith over a broadcast and/or broadband channel.

The Internet access control module(s) may control receiver operations to acquire services, content, and the like over a broadband channel.

The signaling decoder may decode the signaling information acquired over a broadcast channel or the like.

The service signaling manager may extract, parse, and manage signaling information related to service scan and services/content from the IP datagram and the like.

The service guide manager may extract announcement information from IP datagrams, manage an SG (Service Guide) database, and provide a service guide.

The App signaling manager may extract, parse, and manage signaling information related to application acquisition and the like from IP datagrams and the like.

The alert signal parser may extract, parse, and manage alerting related signaling information from IP datagrams and the like.

The targeting signal parser may extract, parse, and manage signaling information related to service/content personalization or targeting from IP datagrams and the like. The targeting signal parser may also deliver the parsed signaling information to the targeting processor.

The streaming media engine may extract and decode audio/video data for A/V streaming from IP datagrams and the like.

The non-real time file processor may extract, decode, and manage NRT data and file type data such as applications from IP datagrams and the like.

The component synchronizer may synchronize services and content such as streaming audio/video data and NRT data.

The targeting processor may process operations related to personalization of the service/content based on the targeting signaling data received from the targeting signal parser.

The application processor (App processor) may process application-related information, the status of a downloaded application and display parameters.

The A/V processor may perform audio/video rendering related operations based on decoded audio and video data, application data, and the like.

The device manager may perform connection and data exchange with an external device. The device manager may also perform management of external devices such as addition/deletion/update of operatively connectable external devices.

The data sharing and communication unit (Data Sharing & Comm.) may process information related to data transmission and exchange between the hybrid broadcast receiver and an external device. Here, the data that may be transmitted and exchanged may be signaling, A/V data, and the like.

The redistribution module(s) may acquire related information about the next generation broadcast service and content when the broadcast receiver cannot directly receive the terrestrial broadcast signal. The redistribution module may also support acquisition of broadcast services and content by the next generation broadcast system when the broadcast receiver cannot directly receive the terrestrial broadcast signal.

The companion device(s) may be coupled to the broadcast receiver of the present invention to share audio, video, or signaling-containing data. The companion device may refer to an external device connected to the broadcast receiver.

An external management module (External Management) may refer to a module for providing broadcast service/content, for example, a next generation broadcast service/content server. The external module may refer to an external device connected to the broadcast receiver.

FIG. 55 is a block diagram illustrating a hybrid broadcast receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The hybrid broadcast receiver may receive the hybrid broadcast service through operative connection of terrestrial broadcast and broadband in the DTV service of the next generation broadcast system. The hybrid broadcast receiver may receive broadcast audio/video (A/V) content transmitted through a terrestrial broadcast and receive part of enhancement data or broadcast A/V content associated therewith in real time through broadband. In this specification, the broadcast audio/video (A/V) content may be referred to as media content.

The hybrid broadcast receiver may include a physical layer controller D55010, a tuner D55020, a physical frame parser D55030, a link layer frame parser D55040, an IP/UDP datagram filter D55050, an ATSC 3.0 DTV (Digital Television) Control Engine D55060, an ALC/LCT+ Client D55070, a timing control D55080, a signaling parser D55090, a DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP) client D55100, an HTTP access client D55110, an ISO BMFF parser D55120, and/or a media decoder D55130.

The physical layer controller D55010 may control operations of the tuner D55020, the physical frame parser D55030, and the like using radio frequency (RF) information about a terrestrial broadcast channel to be received by the hybrid broadcast receiver.

The tuner D55020 may receive and process broadcast related signals through a terrestrial broadcast channel and convert the same into an appropriate form. For example, the tuner D55020 may convert a received terrestrial broadcast signal into a physical frame.

The physical frame parser D55030 may parse the received physical frame and acquire a link layer frame through related processing.

The link layer parser D55040 may acquire link layer signaling from the link layer frame or perform related operations to acquire an IP/UDP datagram or an MPEG-2 TS. The link layer parser D55040 may output at least one IP/UDP datagram or the like.

The IP/UDP datagram filter D55050 may filter a specific IP/UDP datagram from at least one received IP/UDP datagram or the like. That is, the IP/UDP datagram filter D55050 may selectively filter an IP/UDP datagram selected by the ATSC 3.0 DTV control engine D55060 among the at least one IP/UDP datagram output from the link layer parser D55040. The IP/UDP datagram filter D55050 may output an application layer transport protocol packet such as ALC/LCT+.

The ATSC 3.0 DTV control engine D55060 may serve as an interface between modules included in each hybrid broadcast receiver. The ATSC 3.0 DTV control engine D55060 may also provide necessary parameters for each module, thereby controlling the operation of each module. In the present invention, the ATSC 3.0 DTV control engine D55060 may deliver a media presentation description (MPD) and/or an MPD URL to the DASH client D55100. In the present invention, the ATSC 3.0 digital television control engine D55060 may also deliver a delivery mode and/or a transport session identifier (TSI) to the ALC/LCT+ client D55070. Here, TSI may represent the identifier of a session for transmitting a transport packet including a signaling message such as MPD or MPD URL related signaling, for example, the identifier of a FLUTE session or an ALC/LCT+ session, which is an application layer transmission protocol. The TSI may correspond to the Asset id of MMT.

The ALC/LCT+ client D55070 may process application layer transport protocol packets such as ALC/LCT+, and collect and process a plurality of packets to create one or more ISO Base Media File Format (ISOBMFF) objects. The application layer transport protocol packets may include ALC/LCT packets, ALC/LCT+ packets, ROUTE packets, and/or MMTP packets.

The timing control D55080 may process a packet including system time information to control the system clock.

The signaling parser D55090 may acquire and parse DTV broadcast service related signaling, and generate and manage a channel map and the like based on the parsed signaling. In the present invention, the signaling parser may parse the extended MPD or MPD related information from the signaling information.

The DASH client D55100 may perform operations related to real-time streaming or adaptive streaming. The DASH client D55100 may receive DASH content from the HTTP server through the HTTP access client D55110. The DASH client D55100 may process the received DASH segment and output an ISO Base Media File Format object. In the present invention, the DASH client D55100 may deliver a Fully Qualified Representation ID or a segment URL to the ATSC 3.0 DTV control engine D55060. Here, the Fully Qualified Representation ID may refer to an ID that combines, for example, the MPD URL, period@id, and representation@id. The DASH client D55100 may also receive the MPD or MPD URL from the ATSC 3.0 DTV control engine D55060. The DASH client D55100 may receive a desired media stream or DASH segment from the HTTP server using the received MPD or MPD URL. In this specification, the DASH client D55100 may be referred to as a processor.

The HTTP access client D55110 may make a request for specific information to the HTTP server, and may receive and process a response from the HTTP server. Here, the HTTP server may process the request received from the HTTP access client and provide a response thereto.

The ISO BMFF parser D55120 may extract audio/video data from the ISO Base Media File Format object.

The media decoder D55130 may decode the received audio and/or video data and perform processing to present the decoded audio/video data.

The hybrid broadcast receiver of the present invention is required to extend or modify the MPD in order to provide the hybrid broadcast service through operative connection between the terrestrial broadcast network and the broadband. The terrestrial broadcast system may transmit the extended or modified MPD, and the hybrid broadcast receiver may receive the broadcast or broadband content using the extended or modified MPD. That is, the hybrid broadcast receiver may receive the extended or modified MPD through terrestrial broadcasting and receive content via terrestrial broadcasting or broadband based on MPD. The following describes elements and attributes that should be additionally included in the extended or modified MPD compared to the existing MPD. In the following description, the extended or modified MPD may be referred to as an MPD.

The MPD may be extended or modified to represent ATSC 3.0 services. An extended or modified MPD may additionally include MPD@anchorPresentationTime, Common@presentable, Common.Targeting, Common.TargetDevice and/or Common@associatedTo.

MPD @ anchorPresentationTime may represent the presentation time anchor of segments included in the MPD, that is, a base time. Hereinafter, MPD@anchorPresentationTime may be used as an effective time of the MPD. MPD@anchorPresentationTime may represent the earliest playback point in time among the segments included in the MPD.

The MPD may further include common attributes and elements. The common attributes and elements may be applied to the AdaptionSet, Representation, SubRepresentation, and the like in the MPD. Common@presentable may indicate that the media described by MPD is a presentable component.

Common.Targeting may indicate the targeting properties and/or personalization properties of the media described by the MPD.

Common.TargetDevice may represent a target device or target devices of the media described by the MPD.

Common@associatedTo may represent an adaptationSet and/or representation associated with the media described by the MPD.

In addition, the MPD@id, Period@id, and AdaptationSet@id included in the MPD may be required to specify the media content described by the MPD. In other words, the DASH client may specify the content to be received as MPD@id, Period@id, and AdaptationSet@id based on the MPD and deliver the same to the ATSC 3.0 DTV control engine. The ATSC 3.0 DTV control engine may receive the content and deliver the same to the DASH client.

FIG. 56 shows a protocol stack of a next generation hybrid broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, a next generation broadcast system supporting IP-based hybrid broadcasting may encapsulate audio or video data of a broadcast service in an ISO Base Media File Format (hereinafter referred to as ISO BMFF). Here, the encapsulation may be in the form of a DASH segment or an MPU (Media Processing Unit) of MMT. In addition, the next generation broadcast system may transmit encapsulated data over the broadcast network and the Internet network equally or differently according to the properties of each transmission network. The next generation broadcast system may also transmit the encapsulated data using at least one of broadcast or broadband. In case of broadcast network, the broadcast system may transmit data encapsulated in ISO Base Media File (ISO BMFF) through an application layer transport protocol packet supporting real time object transmission. For example, the broadcast system may encapsulate the data with Real-Time Object Delivery over Unidirectional Transport (ROUTE) or MMTP transport packet. Then, the broadcast system may generate an IP/UDP datagram from the encapsulated data, and transmit the same through a broadcast signal. When broadband is used, the broadcast system may transmit the encapsulated data to the receiving side based on a streaming technique such as DASH.

In addition, the broadcast system may transmit the signaling information of the broadcast service in the following manner. In the case of a broadcast network using broadcasting, the broadcast system may transmit signaling information through the physical layer of the next generation broadcast transmission system and the broadcast network according to the attribute of the signaling. Here, the broadcast system may transmit signaling information through a specific data pipe (DP) of a transport frame included in the broadcast signal. The broadcast signaling may be encapsulated in a bit stream or an IP/UDP datagram. When using broadband, the broadcast system may return signaling data in response to the request of the receiver.

In addition, the broadcast system may transmit the ESG or NRT content of the broadcast service in the following manner. In the case of a broadcast network, the broadcast system may encapsulate ESG or NRT content in an application layer transport protocol packet, for example, Real-Time Object Delivery over Unidirectional Transport (ROUTE), MMTP transport packet, or the like. Then, the broadcast system may generate an IP/UDP datagram from the encapsulated ESG or NRT content and transmit the same through a broadcast signal. When using broadband, the broadcast system may return the ESG or NRT content in response to the request of the receiver.

FIG. 57 shows a structure of a transport frame transmitted to a physical layer of a next generation broadcast transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The next generation broadcast system may broadcast a transport frame. In the figure, P1, located at the front part of a transport frame, may refer to a symbol including information for transport signal detection. P1 may contain tuning information and the receiver may decode the L1 part located after P1 based on the parameters contained in the P1 symbol. The broadcast system may include information on the configuration of the transport frame and the characteristics of each data pipe (DP) in the L1 part. That is, the receiver may obtain information on the configuration of the transport frame and the characteristics of each DP by decoding the L1 part. In addition, the receiver may acquire information to be shared between the DPs via a common DP. Depending on the embodiment, the transport frame may not include the common DP.

In the transport frame, components such as Audio, Video, and Data are transmitted in the interleaved DP area composed of DP1 to DP n. Here, a DP through which a component constituting each service (channel) is transmitted may be signaled through L1, common PLP, or the like.

In addition, the next generation broadcast system may transmit information for quickly acquiring information on a service included in a transport frame. That is, the next generation broadcast system may enable the next generation broadcast receiver to quickly acquire the broadcast service and the content related information included in the transport frame. In addition, when a service/content generated by one or more broadcast stations exists in the frame, the next generation broadcast system may enable the receiver to efficiently recognize the service/content according to the broadcast stations. That is, the next-generation broadcast system may transmit service list information for a service in a transport frame.

The broadcast system may transmit broadcast service related information through a separate channel, for example, a Quick Information Channel (FIC), in order to enable the receiver to quickly scan the broadcast service and content within the frequency. As shown in the middle part of FIG. 57, the broadcast system may transmit information for scan and acquiring broadcast services in a transport frame. Herein, the area including the information for scan and acquisition of broadcast services may be referred to as FIC. The receiver may acquire information on the broadcast service generated and transmitted by one or more broadcast stations through the FIC, thereby making it possible to easily and quickly perform scan of the broadcast services available on the receiver.

In addition, a specific DP included in the transport frame may operate as a base DP for quickly and robustly transmitting signaling of a broadcast service and content transmitted in the corresponding transport frame. The data transmitted through each DP of the transport frame of the physical layer are exemplarily shown at the bottom of FIG. 57. That is, link layer signaling or IP datagrams may be encapsulated in a specific type of generic packet and then transmitted through the DP. Here, the generic packet may include signaling data. Link (low) layer signaling may include signaling related to quick service scan/acquisition, context information of IP header compression, emergency alert, and the like.

FIG. 58 is a diagram illustrating a transport packet of an application layer transmission protocol according to an embodiment of the present invention. The application layer transport session may be configured by a combination of an IP address and a port number. If the application layer transport protocol is Real-Time Object Delivery over Unidirectional Transport (ROUTE), the ROUTE session may consist of one or more Layered Coding Transport (LCT) sessions. For example, when one media component (e.g., a DASH Representation or the like) is transmitted through one LCT transport session, one or more media components may be multiplexed and transmitted through one application transport session. Further, one or more transport objects may be delivered through one LCT transport session, and each transport object may be a DASH segment associated with a DASH representation delivered through the transport session.

For example, if the application layer transport protocol is an LCT-based protocol, transport packets may be configured as follows. The transport packet may include an LCT header, a ROUTE header, and payload data, and a plurality of fields may be included in the transport packet.

The LCT header may include the following fields. The V (version) field may indicate the version information of the corresponding transport protocol packet. The C field may indicate a flag associated with the length of the Congestion Control Information field described below. The PSI field is protocol-specific information and may indicate information specified for the protocol. The S field may indicate a flag associated with the length of the transport session identifier (TSI) field. The O field may indicate a flag associated with the length of the transport object identifier (TOI) field. The H field may indicate whether a half-word (16 bits) is added to the length of the TSI and TOI fields. A (Close Session flag) field may indicate that the session is terminated or that termination is imminent. The B (Close Object flag) field may indicate that the object being transmitted is ending or that the end is imminent. The Code point field may indicate information related to encoding or decoding the payload of a packet. For example, the payload type may correspond to this information. The Congestion Control Information field may contain information associated with congestion control. For example, the information associated with congestion control may be the current time slot index (CTSI), the channel number, or the packet sequence number within the channel. The Transport Session Identifier field may indicate the identifier of the transport session. The Transport Object Identifier field may represent an identifier of an object transmitted through the transport session.

The ROUTE (ALC) header may include transmission of additional information of the preceding LCT header, such as the payload identifier associated with the forward error correction scheme.

The payload data may represent the substantial data portion of the payload of the packet.

FIG. 59 illustrates a method of transmitting signaling data in a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The signaling data of the next generation broadcast system may be transmitted as shown in the figure. In order to support quick service/content scan and acquisition by the receiver, the next generation broadcast transmission system may deliver signaling data for a broadcast service delivered by a corresponding physical layer frame through a Fast Information Channel (FIC). In the present specification, FIC may mean information on a service list. If there is no separate FIC, the signaling data may be transmitted through the path along which the link layer signaling is delivered. In other words, signaling information including a service and information on components (audio, video, etc.) in the service may be encapsulated and transmitted in IP/UDP datagrams through one or more DPs in the physical layer frame. According to an embodiment, the signaling information on a service and service components may be encapsulated and transmitted in an application layer transport packet (e.g., ROUTE packet or MMTP packet).

The upper part of FIG. 59 shows an embodiment in which the above-described signaling data is transmitted via FIC and one or more DPs. Signaling data for supporting rapid service scan/acquisition may be transmitted through FIC, and signaling data including detailed information about services and the like may be encapsulated in an IP datagram and transmitted through a specific DP. In the present specification, the signaling data including detailed information on services and the like may be referred to as service layer signaling.

The middle part of FIG. 59 shows an embodiment in which the above-described signaling data is transmitted through the FIC and one or more DPs. Signaling data for supporting rapid service scan/acquisition may be transmitted through FIC, and signaling data including detailed information about services and the like may be encapsulated in an IP datagram and transmitted through a specific DP. In addition, a portion of the signaling data, including information about a specific component included in the service may be transmitted through one or more transport sessions in the application layer transmission protocol. For example, a portion of the signaling data may be delivered over one or more transport sessions within a ROUTE session.

The lower part of FIG. 59 shows an embodiment in which the above-described signaling data is transmitted through the FIC and one or more DPs. Signaling data for supporting rapid service scan/acquisition may be transmitted through FIC, and signaling data containing detailed information about the service may be transmitted through one or more transport sessions in the ROUTE session.

FIG. 60 shows signaling data transmitted by a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention for rapid broadcast service scan of a receiver. The present specification proposes signaling information used for a next generation broadcast reception device to scan and acquire a broadcast service. In the next generation broadcast system, broadcast services and content generated by one or more broadcast stations within a specific frequency may be transmitted. The receiver may use the above-described signaling information to rapidly and easily scan broadcast stations existing within the frequency and the service/content of the corresponding broadcast stations. This may be represented by syntax as shown in the figure or may be represented in other formats such as XML.

Signaling information for rapid service scan and acquisition may be delivered over a rapid information channel (FIC), which is a separate channel in the physical layer transport frame. In addition, the signaling information may be transmitted through a common DP, which may transmit information that may be shared among the data pipes of the physical layer. Also, In addition, the signaling information may be transmitted through a path along which the signaling of the link layer is transmitted. The above-described signaling information may be encapsulated in an IP datagram and transmitted through a specific DP. The signaling information may be transmitted through a service signaling channel through which service signaling is delivered, or a transport session of the application layer.

The signaling information (FIC information) for rapid service scan and acquisition may include at least one of the following fields. Herein, the FIC information may be referred to as service acquisition information. The FIC_portocol_version field may indicate the protocol version of the FIC signaling information (version of the structure of FIC). The TSID field may indicate an identifier of the overall broadcast stream. The FIC_data_version field may indicate the data version of this FIC instance. The FIC_data_version field may be incremented if there is a change in the content of the FIC. The num_partitions field may represent the number of partitions in the broadcast stream. It is assumed that each broadcast stream can be transmitted in one or more partitions in order for the num_partitions field to be used. Each partition may contain a plurality of DPs by one broadcaster. Each partition may represent a portion of the broadcast stream used by one broadcaster. The partition_protocol_version field may indicate the version of the partition structure described above. The base_DP_ID field may indicate an identifier for the base DP of the partition. The base DP may include a service signaling table. The service signaling table may include a list of all services in the partition. That is, the service signaling table may list the services to be transmitted. Default properties for each service may also be defined. The base DP may be a robust DP within the partition and may contain other signaling tables for the partition. The base_DP_version field may indicate version information indicating a change in data transmitted through the base DP. For example, in transmitting service signaling or the like through the base DP, the base_DP_version field may be incremented by 1 when a change in service signaling occurs. The num_services field may indicate the number of at least one service belonging to the partition. The service_id field may indicate an identifier for the service. The channel_number field may indicate the channel number associated with the service. The service_category field may indicate a category of the corresponding service and may indicate, for example, A/V, audio, ESG, CoD, or the like. The short_service_name_length field may indicate the length of the name representing the service. The short_Service_name field may indicate a name representing the service. The service_status field may indicate the status of the service and may indicate an active or suspended, hidden or shown attribute depending on the value thererof. The service_distribution field may have attributes similar to the “multi-ensemble” flag of the ATSC M/H document. For example, the service_distribution field may indicate information about whether the service is included in the partition, whether the service is partially included in the partition but presentable with the partition, whether another partition is required for presentation, or whether another broadcast stream is required for presentation. The sp_indicator field is a service protection flag that may indicate whether one or more components needed for the presentation are protected.

FIG. 61 shows signaling data transmitted by a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention for rapid broadcast service scan of a receiver. FIC information (service acquisition information) to support rapid broadcast service scan and service/component acquisition may include information about an application layer transport session carrying service and component data. As shown in the figure, the FIC information may be expressed in binary format, but may be represented in other formats such as XML according to an embodiment. The FIC information may include the following fields. The FIC_portocol_version field may indicate the protocol version of the FIC signaling information (version of the structure of FIC). The TSID field may indicate an identifier of the overall broadcast stream. The FIC_data_version field may indicate the data version of this FIC instance. The FIC_data_version field may be incremented if there is a change in the content of the FIC. The num_partitions field may represent the number of partitions in the broadcast stream. It is assumed that each broadcast stream can be transmitted in one or more partitions in order for the num_partitions field to be used. Each partition may contain a plurality of DPs by one broadcaster. Each partition may represent a portion of the broadcast stream used by one broadcaster. The partition_id field may indicate the identifier of the partition. The partition_protocol_version field may indicate the version of the partition structure described above. The num_services field may indicate the number of at least one component belonging to the partition. The service_id field may indicate an identifier for the service. The service_data_version field may indicate a change in service loop data in the FIC or a change in service signaling data associated with the service. The service_data_version field may be incremented by 1 each time a change occurs in the included service data. The receiver may use the service_data_version field to detect a change in the service loop data of the FIC or a change in the signaling associated with the service. The channel_number field may indicate the channel number associated with the service. The service_category field may indicate a category of the corresponding service and may indicate, for example, A/V, audio, ESG, CoD, or the like. The short_service_name_length field may indicate the length of the name representing the service. The short_service_name field may indicate a name representing the service. The service_status field may indicate the status of the service and may indicate an active or suspended, hidden or shown attribute depending on the value thereof. The service_distribution field may have attributes similar to the “multi-ensemble” flag of the ATSC M/H document. For example, the service_distribution field may indicate information about whether the service is included in the partition, whether the service is partially included in the partition but presentable with the partition, whether another partition is required for presentation, or whether another broadcast stream is required for presentation. The sp_indicator field is a service protection flag that may indicate whether one or more components needed for the presentation are protected. The IP_version_flag field may indicate the format of the IP address that follows. If the value of the field is 0, it indicates that IPv4 format is used, and if 1, it indicates that IPv6 address format is used. The source_IP_address_flag field may indicate whether source_IP_addr is included. If the value of this field is 1, it indicates that source_IP_addr exists. The num_transport_session field may indicate the number of transport sessions (for example, ROUTE or MMTP sessions) for transmitting component data of the corresponding service in the broadcast stream. The source_IP_addr field may indicate the source IP address of the IP datagram including the component data of the corresponding service when the value of the source_IP_address_flag is 1. The dest_IP_addr field may indicate the destination IP address of the IP datagram including the component data of the corresponding service. The dest_UDP_port field may indicate the UDP port number of the UDP datagram that contains the component data of the corresponding service. The LSID_DP field may represent a data pipe identifier of the physical layer carrying signaling including detailed information about the transport session. Here, the signaling including the detailed information about the transport session may be, for example, an LCT session instance description including information on the detailed LCT transport session of each ROUTE session in the case of ROUTE. The service_signaling_flag field may indicate whether the transport session transmits service signaling. When the value of service_signaling_flag is 1, it may indicate that the data transmitted through the corresponding transport session (for example, ROUTE or MMTP session) includes service signaling. The Transport session descriptors field may contain descriptors at the transport session level. Each descriptor is extensible, and each descriptor may include a num_descriptors field. Each descriptor may include as many descriptor loops as the value indicated by the num_descriptors field. The Transport session descriptors field may contain descriptors at the transport session level. The service descriptors field may include service level descriptors. The Partition descriptors field may include a partition level descriptor, and one partition may indicate a part of a broadcast stream used by one broadcaster or the like. The FIC session descriptors field may contain FIC level descriptors. According to an embodiment, each of the fields included in the FIC described above may be included in a table other than the FIC and transmitted together with a broadcast signal.

FIG. 62 illustrates a method for transmitting FIC-based signaling according to an embodiment of the present invention. The above-mentioned FIC-based signaling may be delivered as shown in the figure. The FIC-based signaling may be referred to as service acquisition information or service acquisition signaling. As shown in the figure, the physical layer signaling may include a field for service acquisition information. The field for the service acquisition information may inform the receiver of whether the service acquisition information (FIC) is parsed. The receiver may parse the service acquisition information and check whether the data of the service signaling is changed through the service_data_version information. When the service signaling data is changed, the broadcast signal receiver may check the data pipe identifier of the physical layer that carries signaling including detailed information on the transport session, using the LSID_DP field. The broadcast receiver may verify the details of the transport session by parsing the DP indicated by the corresponding DP identifier. That is, the signaling method of the next generation broadcast system includes a procedure of signaling whether the physical layer signaling parses the service acquisition information, and the service acquisition information signals the location of the detailed information about the transport session to check the detailed information about the transport session. Here, the detailed information about the transport session may include an MPD transport table, an application signaling table, a transport session descriptor (LSID), and/or a component mapping table (CMT).

FIG. 63 shows signaling data transmitted by a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention for rapid broadcast service scan of a receiver. FIC information (service acquisition information) to support rapid broadcast service scan and service/component acquisition may include information about an application layer transport session carrying service and component data. As shown in the figure, the FIC information may be expressed in binary format, but may be represented in other formats such as XML according to an embodiment. The FIC information may include the following fields. The FIC_portocol_version field may indicate the protocol version of the FIC signaling information (version of the structure of FIC). The TSID field may indicate an identifier of the overall broadcast stream. The FIC_data_version field may indicate the data version of this FIC instance. The FIC_data_version field may be incremented if there is a change in the content of the FIC. The num_partitions field may represent the number of partitions in the broadcast stream. It is assumed that each broadcast stream can be transmitted in one or more partitions in order for the num_partitions field to be used. Each partition may contain a plurality of DPs by one broadcaster. Each partition may represent a portion of the broadcast stream used by one broadcaster. The partition_id field may indicate the identifier of the partition. The partition_protocol_version field may indicate the version of the partition structure described above. The num_services field may indicate the number of at least one component belonging to the partition. The service_id field may indicate an identifier for the service. The service_data_version field may indicate a change in service loop data in the FIC or a change in service signaling data associated with the service. The service_data_version field may be incremented by 1 each time a change occurs in the included service data. The receiver may use the service_data_version field to detect a change in the service loop data of the FIC or a change in the signaling associated with the service. The channel_number field may indicate the channel number associated with the service. The service_category field may indicate a category of the corresponding service and may indicate, for example, A/V, audio, ESG, CoD, or the like. The short_service_name_length field may indicate the length of the name representing the service. The short_service_name field may indicate a name representing the service. The service_status field may indicate the status of the service and may indicate an active or suspended, hidden or shown attribute depending on the value thereof. The service_distribution field may have attributes similar to the “multi-ensemble” flag of the ATSC M/H document. For example, the service_distribution field may indicate information about whether the service is included in the partition, whether the service is partially included in the partition but presentable with the partition, whether another partition is required for presentation, or whether another broadcast stream is required for presentation. The sp_indicator field is a service protection flag that may indicate whether one or more components needed for the presentation are protected. The IP_version_flag field may indicate the format of the IP address that follows. If the value of the field is 0, it indicates that IPv4 format is used, and if 1, it indicates that IPv6 address format is used. The source_IP_address_flag field may indicate whether source_IP_addr is included. If the value of this field is 1, it indicates that source_IP_addr exists. The num_transport_session field may indicate the number of transport sessions (for example, ROUTE or MMTP sessions) for transmitting component data of the corresponding service in the broadcast stream. The source_IP_addr field may indicate the source IP address of the IP datagram including the component data of the corresponding service when the value of the source_IP_address_flag is 1. The dest_IP_addr field may indicate the destination IP address of the IP datagram including the component data of the corresponding service. The dest_UDP_port field may indicate the UDP port number of the IP datagram that contains the component data of the corresponding service. The LSID_DP field may represent a data pipe identifier of the physical layer carrying signaling including detailed information about the transport session. Here, the signaling including the detailed information about the transport session may be, for example, an LCT session instance description including information on the detailed LCT transport session of each ROUTE session in the case of ROUTE. The service_signaling_flag field may indicate whether the transport session transmits service signaling. If the value of the service_signaling_flag value is 1, it may indicate that there is a DP including service signaling. The signaling_data_version field may indicate a change in the associated service signaling data. Each time the service signaling data changes, the field may be incremented by 1. The receiver may use the signaling_data_version field to detect changes in the signaling associated with the service. The signaling_DP field may indicate the data pipe identifier of the physical layer carrying the service signaling. The Transport session descriptors field may contain descriptors at the transport session level. Each descriptor is extensible, and each descriptor may include a num_descriptors field. Each descriptor may include as many descriptor loops as the value indicated by the num_descriptors field. The Transport session descriptors field may contain descriptors at the transport session level. The service descriptors field may include service level descriptors. The Partition descriptors field may include a partition level descriptor, and one partition may indicate a part of a broadcast stream used by one broadcaster or the like. The FIC session descriptors field may contain FIC level descriptors. According to an embodiment, each of the fields included in the FIC described above may be included in a table other than the FIC and transmitted together with a broadcast signal.

FIG. 64 illustrates a method for transmitting FIC-based signaling according to another embodiment of the present invention. The above-mentioned FIC-based signaling may be delivered as shown in the figure. The FIC-based signaling may be referred to as service acquisition information or service acquisition signaling. As shown in the figure, the physical layer signaling may include a field for service acquisition information. The field for the service acquisition information may inform the receiver of whether the service acquisition information (FIC) is parsed. The receiver parses the service acquisition information and may check whether the data of the service signaling is changed through the service_data_version information. When the service signaling data is changed, the broadcast signal receiver may acquire the LSID or LSID Table including detailed information on the transport session using the LSID_DP field through the DP identified from the LSID_DP field. In addition, the receiver may recognize change of the signaling data using information such as service_signaling_flag, signaling_data_version, signaling_DP, etc., and acquire the signaling data through the DP identified from the signaling_DP.

That is, the signaling method of the next generation broadcast system includes a procedure of signaling whether the physical layer signaling parses the service acquisition information, and the service acquisition information signals the location of the detailed information about the transport session to check the detailed information about the transport session. Here, the detailed information about the transport session may include an MPD transport table, an application signaling table, a transport session descriptor (LSID), and/or a component mapping table (CMT), and each detail of the transmission session may be delivered by different examples.

FIG. 65 is a diagram illustrating a service signaling message format of a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this specification, the service signaling message may be referred to as signaling data or service layer signaling including detailed information on services and the like. The service signaling message may include a signaling message header and a signaling message. The signaling message may be expressed in binary or XML format. It may be sent in an IP datagram or a payload of application layer transport packets (e.g., ROUTE or MMTP). The syntax of the signaling message header may be as follows, which may be represented in other formats such as XML. The Signaling message header may include the following fields. The signaling_id field may indicate an identifier of a signaling message. For example, if the signaling message is in the form of a section, it may indicate the id of the signaling table section. The signaling_length field may indicate the length of the included signaling message. The signaling_id_extension field may indicate extension information about an identifier for the signaling message. The signaling_id_extension field together with the signaling_id field may be used as information for identifying the signaling. For example, the signaling_id_extension field may include a protocol version of the signaling message. The version_number field may indicate the version information of the signaling message. The version_number field may be changed if the content of the signaling message changes. The current_next_indicator field may indicate whether the included signaling message is currently available. If the value of this field is ‘1’, it indicates that the included signaling message is currently available. If the value of this field is ‘0’, it indicates that the signaling message is not currently available and that a signaling message containing the same signaling_id, signaling_id_extension, or fragment_number will be available later. The fragmentation_indicator field may indicate whether the signaling message has been fragmented. If the value of this field is ‘1’, this may indicate that the message has been fragmented. This may in turn indicate that part of the signaling data is included in signaling_message_data( ). If the value of this field is ‘0’, this may indicate that the entire signaling data is included in signaling_message_data( ). The payload_format_indicator field may indicate whether the payload_format_indicator field currently contains the value of payload_format in the signaling message header. If the value of this field is ‘1’, this may indicate that the payload_format value is included in the header part of the signaling message. The expiration_indicator field may indicate whether the header part of the signaling message currently contains an expiration value. If the value of this field is ‘1’, it may indicate that the expiration value is included in the header part of the signaling message. The fragment_number field may indicate the fragment number of the current signaling message when a signaling message transmitted is divided into multiple fragments. The last_fragment_number field indicates the number of the fragment containing the last data of the signaling message when one signaling message is divided into several fragments. The payload_format field may indicate the format of the signaling message data contained in the payload. For example, the field may indicate binary, XML, or the like. The expiration field may indicate the valid time of the signaling message included in the payload.

FIG. 66 shows a service signaling table used in a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the present invention, the following service signaling tables/messages may be used in the next generation broadcast network and signal the following information. The information contained in each table/message may be individually transmitted in different tables and is not limited by the illustrated embodiment. In some embodiments, the signaling information belonging to different tables may be merged into one table and transmitted. The service mapping table may include attributes of a service and information related to the service. The attribute information of the service may include, for example, as an ID, a name, and a category. The information associated with the service may include path information for acquiring the service. The MPD Delivery table may contain DASH MPD associated with the service/content or path information for acquiring the DASH MPD. The component mapping table may contain information about components in the service and information associated with the components. The component information may include associated DASH representation information, and the information associated with the component may include path information for acquiring the component. The LSID table may contain information about a transport session for transmitting a service/component and the like and a configuration of a transport packet. The Initialization Segment Delivery table may contain Initialization Segment information about the DASH Representation associated with the component in the service or a path for acquiring the same. The application parameter table may contain related information such as detailed information about an application associated with a broadcast service and a path for acquiring the same. These signaling messages/tables may be transmitted over the broadcast network, through a Rapid Information Channel (FIC), a Service Signaling Channel (SSC), or an application layer transport session (for example, ROUTE or MMTP session). Further, the signaling messages/tables may be transmitted over the Internet network (broadband).

FIG. 67 is a diagram illustrating a service mapping table used in a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The content described below may be included in a portion of the service signaling message following the signaling message header.

The service mapping table may contain information on service mapping signaling and may be expressed in XML format or binary format. The service mapping table, which is one of service signaling, may contain a service identifier (id), a service type, a service name, a channel number, ROUTE session related information, MPD related information, and component signaling location information. The service identifier may indicate information for identifying the service and may be expressed by an id attribute. The service type information may indicate the type of the service, and may be expressed by the serviceType attribute. The service name information may indicate the name of the service, and may be expressed by the serviceName attribute. The channel number information may indicate a channel number associated with the service, and may be expressed by the channelNumber attribute.

The ROUTE session related information may include a sourceIP attribute, a destinationIP attribute, and a destinationPort attribute. The sourceIP attribute may indicate the source address of the IP datagrams containing the associated data. The destinationIP attribute may indicate the destination address of the IP datagrams containing the associated data. The destinationPort attribute may indicate the destination port number of the UDP packet header in the IP datagram containing the associated data.

The ROUTE session related information may include detailed information (LSID) about the transport sessions, and may include, for example, each LSID location and delivery mode information for each LSID location information. The detailed information (LSID) about the transport sessions may also include bootstrap information. The bootstrap information included in the LSID may include bootstrap information about the LSID according to the delivery mode. The attributes included in the bootstrap information are described in detail below.

The MPD related information may include information about the MPD or MPD signaling location. The information about the MPD may include the version attribute and indicate the version of the MPD DT. The MPDSignalingLocation information may indicate a location where signaling associated with the MPD or MPD URL can be acquired. The deliveryMode information included in the MPD signaling location may indicate the delivery mode of the MPD location signaling. The BootstrapInfo information included in the MPDSignalingLocation may include bootstrap information about the MPD or MPD URL according to the delivery mode.

The ComponentSignalingLocation information may include a deliveryMode attribute. The deliveryMode attribute may indicate the delivery mode of the corresponding component signaling location information. The bootstrap information included in the MPDSignalingLocation may include bootstrap information of the corresponding component location signaling according to the delivery mode.

The bootstrap information may include at least one of the following attributes depending on the delivery mode.

The sourceIP attribute may indicate the source address of the IP datagrams containing the associated data. The destinationIP attribute may indicate the destination address of the IP datagrams containing the associated data. The destinationPort attribute may indicate the destination port number of the UDP packet header containing the associated data. The tsi attribute may indicate an identifier for the transport session carrying transport packets carrying the associated data. The URL attribute may indicate a URL where the associated data can be acquired. The packetid may indicate the identifier of transport packets carrying the associated data.

FIG. 68 shows a service signaling table of a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The next generation broadcast system may provide broadcast service signaling to allow the receiver to receive broadcast services and content. This allows the receiver to acquire relevant signaling if the signaling data is transmitted over the same Transport session Identifier (TSI). The service signaling table may be represented in a binary format as shown in the figure and may be represented in other forms such as XML according to an embodiment. The service signaling table may also be encapsulated in the signaling message format described above. The service signaling table may contain the following fields. The SST_portocol_version field may indicate the version of the service signaling table. The partition_id field may indicate the identifier of the partition. The SST_data_version field may indicate the data version of the service signaling table. The num_services field may indicate the number of at least one service included in the partition. The service_id field may indicate the identifier of the corresponding service. The service_name field may indicate the name of the service. The MPD_availability field may indicate whether the MPD can be acquired over the broadcast, cellular network, and/or wifi/Ethernet. The CMT_availability field may indicate whether a Component Mapping Table (CMT) is available over the broadcast, cellular network and/or wifi/Ethernet. The ASL_availability field may indicate whether the Application Signaling Table (AST) is available over the broadcast, cellular network, and/or wifi/Ethernet. The DP_ID field may indicate the identifier of the DP that delivers the MPD, CMT, and/or ASL through broadcast. The LCT_IP_address field may indicate the IP address of the LCT channel carrying the MPD, CMT and/or ASL. The LCT_UDP_port field may indicate the UDP port of the LCT channel carrying the MPD, CMT and/or ASL. The LCT_TSI field may indicate a Transport Session Identifier (TSI) of the LCT channel carrying MPD, CMT and/or ASL. The MPD_TOI field may indicate a Transport Object Identifier of an application transport packet that carries the MPD when the MPD is delivered through broadcast. The CMT TOI field may indicate a Transport Object Identifier of an application transport packet that carries the CMT when the CMT is delivered through broadcast. The AST_TOI field may indicate a transport object identifier of an application transport packet that carries the AST when the AST is delivered via broadcast. The MPD_URL field may indicate URL information for acquiring MPD over broadband. The CMT_URL field may indicate URL information for acquiring CMT over broadband. AST_URL Broadband may indicate URL information for acquiring AST.

FIG. 69 is a diagram illustrating a component mapping table used in a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The content described below may be included in a portion of the service signaling message located after the signaling message header. The component mapping table may contain information on component mapping signaling and may be expressed in the XML format or binary format. The component mapping table, which is one of the service signaling, may include the following fields. The Signaling_id field may contain an identifier indicating that the corresponding table is a component mapping table. The protocol_version field may indicate the protocol version of the component mapping table, such as the component mapping table syntax. The Signaling_version field may indicate a change in the signaling data of the component mapping table. The Service_id field may indicate an identifier for a service associated with the components. The Num_component field may indicate the number of components included in the service. The Mpd_id field may indicate the DASH MPD identifier associated with the component. The Period_id field may indicate a DASH period identifier associated with the component. The representation_id field may indicate a DASH representation identifier associated with the component. The Source_IP field may indicate the source IP address of the IP/UDP datagram containing the component data. The Dest_IP field may indicate a destination IP address of an IP/UDP datagram including the component data. The port field may indicate the port number of the IP/UDP datagram containing the component data. The tsi field may indicate the identifier of the application layer transport session containing the component data. The DP_id field may indicate the identifier of a physical layer data pipe carrying the corresponding component data. With the above information, the CMT may define the components associated with each service and inform the receiver of the location or path where the components can be received.

FIG. 70 illustrates a component mapping table description according to an embodiment of the present invention. The Component Mapping Table Description may signal information on a transmission path of components included in a broadcast service in a next generation broadcast system. It may be expressed by a bitstream in the XML format or binary format. The component mapping table description may include the following elements and attributes. The service_id attribute may indicate the identifier of the service associated with the component. BroadcastComp may indicate one or more components transmitted over the same broadcast stream. BroadcastComp may include at least one of mpdID, perID, reptnID, baseURL, and/or datapipeID. The mpdID attribute may indicate the DASH MPD identifier associated with BroadcastComp. The perID attribute may indicate the associated period identifier in the corresponding MPD. The reptnID attribute may indicate the DASH Representation identifier associated with the component. The baseURL attribute may indicate the Base URL associated with the DASH segment associated with that component. The datapipeID attribute may indicate the identifier of a data pipe through which the corresponding component data is transmitted in a broadcast stream.

BBComp may indicate one or more components transmitted over a broadband network. BBComp may include at least one of mpdID, perID, reptnID, and/or baseURL. The mpdID attribute may indicate the DASH MPD identifier associated with BBComp. The perID attribute may indicate the associated period identifier in the corresponding MPD. The reptnID attribute may indicate the DASH Representation identifier associated with the component. The baseURL attribute may indicate the Base URL associated with the DASH segment associated with that component.

The ForeignComp may indicate one or more components transmitted through another broadcast stream. The ForeignComp may include at least one of mpdID, perID, reptnID, baseURL, transportStreamID, sourceIPAddr, destIPAddr, and/or destUDPPort. The mpdID attribute may indicate the DASH MPD identifier associated with ForeignComp. The perID attribute may indicate the associated period identifier in the corresponding MPD. The reptnID attribute may indicate the DASH Representation identifier associated with the component. The baseURL attribute may indicate the base URL of the DASH segment associated with the component. The transportStreamID attribute may indicate the identifier of the broadcast stream containing the component data. The sourceIPAddr attribute may indicate the source IP address of the IP datagram containing the component data. The destIPAddr attribute may indicate the destination IP address of the IP datagram containing the component data. The destUDPPort attribute may indicate the destination UDP port number of the IP datagram containing the component data. The datapipeID attribute may indicate the identifier of a data pipe through which the corresponding component data is transmitted in the broadcast stream. The Component Mapping Description may be encapsulated in a single XML file or in the signaling message format proposed above. As shown in the lower part of FIG. 70, the Signaling message header may take the form described above, and the component message description or a part thereof may be included in the service message part. With the above information, the CMT may define the components associated with each service and inform the receiver of the location or path where information related to the components can be received.

FIG. 71 shows syntax of a component mapping table of a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The next generation broadcast system may signal the component mapping table (CMT) to allow the receiver to acquire the components of the broadcast service. The CMT may be expressed in other formats such as the binary format or XML format and may be encapsulated in the signaling message format described above. The CMT may contain the following fields. The CMT_portocol_version field may indicate the version of the structure of the Component Mapping Table (CMT). The service_id field may indicate an identifier of a service related to a component location provided by the corresponding CMT. The CMT_data_version field may indicate a data version of the corresponding CMT. The num_broadcast_streams field may indicate the number of broadcast streams including at least one component associated with the service. The TSID field may indicate the transport session identifier of the broadcast stream. The num_partitions field may indicate the number of partitions of the broadcast stream including at least one component associated with the service. The CMT may include a plurality of partitions. The partition_id field may indicate the identifier of the partition. The num_data_pipes field may indicate the number of data pipes in the partition that includes at least one component associated with the service. The DP_ID field may indicate the identifier of each data pipe. The num_ROUTE_sessions field may indicate the number of transport sessions (e.g., ROUTE sessions) included in each datapipe. Each datapipe may include at least one component associated with the service. The IP_address field may indicate the IP address of each transport session. The UDP_port field may indicate the UDP port of each transport session. The num_LCT_channels field may indicate the number of LCT channels in the transport session including the component associated with the service. The LCT_TSI field may indicate a Transport Session Identifier (TSI). The Representation_ID field may indicate the identifier of the DASH Representation carried by the corresponding LCT channel. According to an embodiment, the CMT may further include an MPD id field and a Period id field. In this case, a globally unique ID may be acquired by combining MPD id, Period id, and Representation id. The Internet_availability field may be an identifier that indicates whether the Representation can be received over the Internet or broadband. The num_internet_only_reptns field may indicate the number of Representations that may be received only over the Internet or broadband. The Representation_ID field may indicate an identifier of a DASH Representation that can be received only over the Internet or broadband within a loop of num_internet_only_reptns. As described above, according to embodiments, a globally unique identifier may be configured by combining MPD id, Period id, and Representation id. With the above information, the CMT may define the components associated with each service and inform the receiver of the location or path where the components can be received.

FIG. 72 illustrates a method for delivering signaling associated with each service over a broadband network in a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The next generation broadcast system may transmit signaling related to the service to the receiver over the broadband network or the like. The next generation broadcast system may transmit signaling to the receiver through a broadband network or the like using URL Signaling Table Description. It may be represented in other formats such as XML or binary. The URL Signaling Table Description may include the following attributes. The service_id attribute may indicate the identifier of the service associated with the signaling. The mpdURL attribute may indicate the URL of the broadband MPD. The cstURL attribute may indicate the URL of the broadband CMT. The CMT may contain information on the component data acquisition path in the broadcast service. The astURL attribute may indicate the URL of the broadband AST. The AST may include information about an application associated with the broadcast service. The receiver may receive the description and receive the corresponding signaling based on the URL for each signaling. The URL Signaling Table Description may be encapsulated in a single XML file or in the signaling message format proposed above. As shown in the lower part of the figure, the signaling message header may conform to the form proposed above, and the header may include a URL Signaling Table Description or a part thereof.

FIG. 73 illustrates a method for signaling MPD in a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The signaling message for the MPD of the broadcast service available in the next generation broadcast network may include a signaling message header and a signaling message as shown in the upper part of the figure. The Signaling message header may conform to the above-described format, and the MPD delivery table information may include the following information. The Signaling_id information may identify that the corresponding signaling message is a signaling message that includes the MPD or path information for acquiring the MPD. The protocol_version information may indicate the protocol version of the MPD delivery table, such as the syntax of the signaling message. The Signaling_version information may indicate a change in the signaling data of the MPD delivery table. The Service_id information may indicate a service identifier associated with the signaling information. The Mpd_id information may indicate the identifier of the DASH MPD associated with the signaling message. The MPD_version information may represent version information indicating a change of the corresponding MPD or the like. The Delivery_mode information may indicate whether the signaling message includes the corresponding MPD or whether the MPD is transmitted through another path. The MPD_data( ) information may include the MPD data if the signaling message includes the MPD. The MPD_path information may include information on a path for acquiring the MPD. For example, a path may represent a URL, etc.

The MPD delivery table description may contain the following information: The service_id attribute may indicate the identifier of the service associated with the signaling. The MPD_id attribute may indicate the identifier of the MPD. MPD_version may indicate version information that may indicate the MPD change information. The MPD_URL attribute may include URL information for acquiring an MPD. The MPD element may also include MPD information. The MPD Delivery Table Description may be encapsulated in a single XML file or in the signaling message format proposed above. That is, the signaling message header may conform to the previously proposed format, followed by an MPD Delivery Table Description or a part thereof.

FIG. 74 shows syntax of an MPD delivery table of a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information of the MPD delivery table or a part thereof may be included after the signaling message header, and the information of the MPD delivery table may contain the following fields. The service_id field may indicate the identifier of an associated broadcast service. The MPD_id_length field may indicate the length of subsequent MPD_id_bytes( ) The MPD_id_bytes field may indicate the identifier of the MPD file included in the signaling message. The MPD_version field may indicate version information such as a change in data of the MPD. The MPD_URL_availabilty field may indicate whether the URL information of the MPD exists in the corresponding signaling table/message. The MPD_data_availabilty field may indicate whether the MPD is included in the signaling table/message. If the value of this field is ‘1’, this may indicate that the MPD is included in the signaling table/message. The MPD_URL_length field may indicate the length of subsequent MPD_URL_bytes( ). The MPD_URL_bytes field may indicate the MPD URL included in the signaling message. The MPD_coding field may indicate the encoding scheme of the MPD file included in the signaling message. As shown in the lower part of the figure, the MPD_coding field may indicate that MPD files are encoded in different encoding schemes according to the values. For example, if the value of the MPD_coding field is ‘0x00’, this may indicate that the MPD file includes the MPD file. If the value of the field is ‘0x01’, this may indicate that MPD file compressed by gzip is included. For example, if the MPD compressed by gzip is divided into a plurality of messages/tables, the corresponding MPD_bytes( ) may be concatenated and ungziped. The MPD_byte_length field may indicate the following MPD_bytes( ) length. The MPD_bytes field may contain the actual data of the MPD file included in the signaling message according to the encoding scheme specified in MPD_coding. The next generation broadcast system allows the receiver to receive or acquire the MPD associated with the service through the MPD delivery table including the fields described above.

FIG. 75 shows a description of a transmission session instance of a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention. When the application layer transmission method is Real-Time Object Delivery over Unidirectional Transport (ROUTE), a ROUTE session may include one or more Layered Coding Transport (LCT) sessions. The details of one or more transport sessions may be signaled through a transport session instance description. The transport session instance descriptor may be referred to as LCT Session Instance Description (LSID) if it is ROUTE. In particular, the transport session instance description may define what is delivered by each LCT transport session constituting the ROUTE session. Each transport session may be uniquely identified by the Transport Session Identifier (TSI). The transport session identifier may be included in the LCT header. The transport session instance description may describe all transport sessions that are transmitted through the session. For example, the LSID may describe a mode LCT session carried by a ROUTE session. The transport session instance description may be delivered through the same ROUTE session as the transport sessions, or may be delivered through different ROUTE sessions or unicast.

When delivered in the same ROUTE session, the transport session instance description may be transmitted in the transport session with a specified transport session identifier (TSI) 0. Other objects referenced in the transport session instance description may also be delivered with TSI=0, but may have a TOI value different from the transport session instance description. Alternatively, it may be delivered in a separate session with TSI≠0. The transport session instance description may be updated using at least one of the version number, validity information, and expiration information. The transport session instance description may be represented in a bitstream or the like in addition to the illustrated format.

The transport session instance description may include a version attribute, a validFrom attribute, an expiration attribute, and may include TSI attributes and SourceFlow and RepairFlow information for each transport session. The version attribute may indicate the version information about the corresponding transport session instance description, and the version information may be incremented each time the content is updated. The transfer session instance description with the highest version number may indicate the most recent valid version. The validFrom attribute may indicate when the transfer session instance description begins to be valid. The validFrom attribute may not be included in the transport session instance description according to an embodiment. This indicates that the transport session instance description is valid immediately upon receiving the description. The expiration attribute may indicate when the transfer session instance description expires. The expiration attribute may not be included in the transport session instance description according to the embodiment. This indicates that the transport session instance description is continuously valid. If a transport session instance description with an expiration attribute is received, expiration may conform to the expiration attribute. The TSI attribute may indicate a transport session identifier, and the SourceFlow element provides information about the source flow to be transmitted to the TSI, the details of which will be described below. The RepairFlow element may provide information about the repair flow sent to the corresponding TSI.

FIG. 76 shows a SourceFlow element of a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The source flow element may include an EFDT element, an idRef attribute, a realtime attribute, a minBufferSize attribute, an Application Idendtifier element, and a PayloadFormat element. The EFDT element may include detailed information of the file delivery data. An EFDT may indicate an extended File Delivery Table (FDT) instance, described in more detail below. The idRef attribute may indicate the identifier of the EFDT and may be represented as a URI by the corresponding transport session. The realtime attribute may indicate that the corresponding LCT packets include an extension header. The extension header may include a timestamp indicating the presentation time of the delivery object. The minBufferSize attribute may define the maximum amount of data needed to be stored in the receiver. The Application Idendtifier element may provide additional information that may be mapped to an application carried by that transport session. For example, the Representation ID of the DASH content or the Adaptation Set parameter of the DASH representation for selecting a transport session for rendering may be provided as additional information. The PayloadFormat element may define the payload format of a ROUTE packet carrying an object of the source flow. The PayloadFormat element may include a codePoint attribute, a deliveryObjectFormat attribute, a fragmentation attribute, a deliveryOrder attribute, a sourceFecPayloadlD attribute, and/or a FECParameters element. The codePoint attribute may define the structure of the packet with the code point value used in the payload. This may indicate the value of the CP field in the LCT header. The deliveryObjectFormat attribute may indicate the payload format of the delivery object. The fragmentation attribute may define fragmentation rules when an object to be transmitted is divided into one or more transport packets. The deliveryOrder attribute may indicate the order of transmission of the content of each transport packet carrying one transport object. The sourceFecPayloadlD attribute may define the format of the source FEC payload identifier. The FECParameters element may define FEC parameters. This may include FEC encoding id and instance id.

FIG. 77 shows an EFDT of a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The EFDT may include detailed information of the file delivery data. The EFDT may include an idRef attribute, a version attribute, a maxExpiresDelta attribute, a maxTransportSize attribute, and a FileTemplate element. The idRef attribute may indicate the identifier of the EFDT. The version attribute may indicate the version of the EFDT instance descriptor. This attribute may be incremented by 1 when EFDT is updated. It may indicate that the EFDT having the highest version number among the received EFDTs is the currently valid version. The maxExpiresDelta attribute may indicate the maximum expiry time of the object after the first packet associated with the object is sent. The maxTransportSize attribute may indicate the maximum transmission size of the object described by the EFDT. For the FileTemplate element, the file URL or file template of the body part may be specified.

The transfport session instance descriptor (LSID) element may be transmitted by the Transport Session Instance Descriptor Table (LSID Table) at the bottom of the figure. The LSID table may be transmitted by the above-described signaling message, which may be divided into a signaling message header and a signaling message data part. The signaling message data part may include a transport session instance descriptor (LSID) or a part thereof. The signaling message data may include a Transport Session Instance Descriptor (LSID) Table and may include the following fields. The Signaling_id field may indicate identifier information indicating that the signaling table includes a transport session instance descriptor (LSID). The protocol_version field may indicate a protocol version of the signaling, such as a signaling syntax that includes a transport session instance descriptor (LSID). The Signaling_version field may indicate a change in signaling data, including a transport session instance descriptor (LSID). In addition, the transport session instance descriptor table may further include the content of the LSID element described above.

FIG. 78 shows a method for transmitting an ISDT used by a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The next generation broadcast system may transmit signaling information for the initialization segment of the DASH Representation associated with the component in the broadcast service by transmitting the Initialization Segment Delivery Table (ISDT). A signaling message for the initialization segment of a DASH Representation associated with a component in a broadcast service may include a header and data. The signaling message header may conform to the above-described format, and the signaling message data may include initialization segment delivery information or a part thereof. The initialization segment delivery information may include the following information. The Signaling_id information may identify the initialization segment or a signaling message including path information. The protocol_version information may indicate the protocol version of the initialization segment delivery table, such as the syntax of the corresponding signaling message. The Sequence_number information may indicate the identifier for an instance of the initialization segment delivery table. The Signaling_version information may indicate a change in the signaling data of the initialization segment delivery table. The Service_id information may identify the service associated with the component. The Mpd_id information may indicate an associated DASH MPD identifier associated with the component. The period_id information may indicate an associated DASH Period identifier associated with the component. The representation_id information may indicate a DASH representation identifier associated with the component. The initialization_segment_version information may be version information indicating a change of the corresponding MPD or the like. The Delivery_mode information may indicate information about whether the initialization segment is included or is transmitted through another route. Initialization_segment_data( ) information may contain the initialization segment data itself. The initialization segment path information may include information on a path for acquiring an initialization segment, such as a URL for an initialization segment. Through the ISDT, the receiver may receive information about the Initialization segment of the DASH Representation associated with the component.

FIG. 79 shows a delivery structure of a signaling message of a next generation broadcast system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The above signaling data may be communicated as shown in the figure if it is sent based on an application layer transport, for example, ROUTE. That is, a part signaling may be transmitted through a fast information channel in order to support rapid service scan. And a part of the signaling may be transmitted over a specific transport session and may also be delivered mixed with the component data.

The signaling information for supporting the rapid service scan and acquisition may be received on a channel separate from the transport session. Here, the separate channel may mean a separate data pipe (DP). Further, detailed information about the service may be received through a separately designated transport session. The transport session may have a value of TSI=0. The information delivered through the transport session designated herein may include an MPD delivery table, an application signaling table, a transport session instance description table, and/or a component mapping table. In addition, a part of signaling information may be delivered in the transport session along with the component data. For example, an initialization segment delivery table may be delivered with the component data.

The lower part of the figure shows an embodiment of acquiring a broadcast service in a next generation broadcast network. The receiver may tune the broadcast and acquire and parse information for rapid service scanning and acquisition when the service is selected. The location of the service layer signaling or transport session instance description (e.g., LSID) is then determined from the information for rapid service scan and acquisition to acquire and parse the description. In addition, the receiver may identify the transport session including the signaling, from which it may acquire and parse the signaling table, and determine a desired component. Through this process, the desired component may be presented. That is, the broadcast service may be provided to the user by acquiring information about the transport session from the information for rapid service scan and acquisition, checking the position of the desired component from the information about the transport session, and reproducing the component.

FIG. 80 is a diagram illustrating a next generation broadcast transmission device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The next generation broadcast transmission device of the present invention may transmit a media signal including a media stream and signaling information. The next generation broadcast transmission device may include the signaling information for the media stream or the component in the signaling information. The signaling information may include information for rapid service scan and acquisition, service signaling information, information about a transport session, information for mapping services and components, information on MPD, and the like. The next generation broadcast transmission device D800000 may include an encoder D800010, a signaling generation unit D800020, a multiplexing unit D800030 and/or a transmission unit D800040. The encoder D800010 may encode media data into a media stream. The signaling generation unit D800020 may generate signaling information for signaling a media stream or component. As described above, the signaling information may include information for rapid service scan and acquisition, service signaling information, information about a transport session, information for mapping services and components, information about MPD, and the like. The multiplexing unit D800030 may multiplex the media stream and the signaling information to generate a broadcast signal. Here, the broadcast signal may include an MPEG2-TS, IP, or GS stream input that is input to the input format block of the broadcast signal transmission device for the next generation broadcast service. The transmitter D800040 may transmit the generated broadcast signal.

FIG. 81 is a diagram illustrating a next generation broadcast reception device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The next generation broadcast reception device may receive a broadcast signal including a media stream and signaling information. The next generation broadcast reception device may parse the signaling information included in the broadcast signal. The signaling information may include information for rapid service scan and acquisition, service signaling information, information about a transport session, information for mapping services and components, information on MPD, and the like. The next generation broadcast reception device D810000 may include a reception unit D810010, a demultiplexing unit D810020 and/or a processor D810030.

The reception unit D810010 may receive a terrestrial broadcast signal and/or a broadband broadcast signal. The broadcast signal may include a multiplexed media stream and signaling information for signaling the media stream. The operation of the reception unit D810010 may be similarly performed by the above-described tuner. The demultiplexing unit D810020 may demultiplex the received broadcast signals to acquire the media stream and signaling information. The signaling information is parsed by the above-described signaling parser such that the next generation broadcast receiving device can acquire signaling information for the broadcast service and the component. The processor D810030 may acquire the mapping relation between the service and the component, information on the transport session, and/or information on the MPD using the signaling information.

FIG. 82 is a diagram illustrating a next generation broadcast transmission method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The next generation broadcast transmission method of the present invention may include transmitting a media signal including a media stream and signaling information. In the next generation broadcast transmission method, the signaling information for the media stream or the component may be included in the signaling information and transmitted. The signaling information may include information for rapid service scan and acquisition, service signaling information, information about a transport session, information for mapping services and components, and information on MPD. The next generation broadcast transmission method may be performed as follows. The next generation broadcast transmission method may include encoding media data into a media streams (DS820010). The next generation broadcast transmission method may include generating signaling information to signal the media stream (DS820020). As described above, the signaling information may include information for rapid service scan and acquisition, service signaling information, information about a transport session, information for mapping services and components, and information about MPD. The next generation broadcast transmission method may include generating a broadcast signal by multiplexing media stream and signaling information (DS820030). Here, the broadcast signal may include an MPEG2-TS, IP, or GS stream input that is input to the input format block of the broadcast signal transmission device for the next generation broadcast service. The next generation broadcast transmission method may include transmitting a broadcast signal including a media stream and signaling information (DS820040).

FIG. 83 is a diagram illustrating a next generation broadcast receiving method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The next generation broadcast reception method may include receiving a broadcast signal including a media stream and signaling information. The next generation broadcast receiving method may include parsing the signaling information and include information for rapid service scan and acquisition, service signaling information, information on a transport session, information for mapping services and components, and information on MPD. The next generation broadcast reception method may be performed as follows. The next generation broadcast reception method may include receiving a broadcast signal (DS830010). The broadcast signal may include a multiplexed media stream and signaling information for signaling the media stream. The next generation broadcasting reception method may include acquiring signaling information by demultiplexing the broadcast signal (DS830020). The signaling information is parsed by the signaling parser described above such that the next generation broadcast receiving method may acquire the signaling information for the media stream. The next generation broadcast receiving method may include acquiring a media stream using signaling information (DS830030). Here, the signaling information may include information for rapid service scan and acquisition, service signaling information, information on a transport session, information for mapping services and components, and information on MPD.

The module or unit may be one or more processors designed to execute a series of execution steps stored in the memory (or the storage unit). Each step described in the above-mentioned embodiments may be implemented by hardware and/or processors. Each module, each block, and/or each unit described in the above-mentioned embodiments may be realized by hardware or processor. In addition, the above-mentioned methods of the present invention may be realized by codes written in recoding media configured to be read by a processor so that the codes may be read by the processor supplied from the apparatus.

Although the description of the present invention is explained with reference to each of the accompanying drawings for clarity, it is possible to design new embodiment(s) by merging the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings with each other. And, if a recording medium readable by a computer, in which programs for executing the embodiments mentioned in the foregoing description are recorded, is designed in necessity of those skilled in the art, it may belong to the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

An apparatus and method according to the present invention may be non-limited by the configurations and methods of the embodiments mentioned in the foregoing description. And, the embodiments mentioned in the foregoing description may be configured in a manner of being selectively combined with one another entirely or in part to enable various modifications.

In addition, a method according to the present invention may be implemented with processor-readable codes in a processor-readable recording medium provided to a network device. The processor-readable medium may include all kinds of recording devices capable of storing data readable by a processor. The processor-readable medium may include one of ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tapes, floppy discs, optical data storage devices, and the like for example and also include such a carrier-wave type implementation as a transmission via Internet. Furthermore, as the processor-readable recording medium is distributed to a computer system connected via network, processor-readable codes may be saved and executed according to a distributive system.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Both the product invention and the process invention are described in the specification and the description of both inventions may be supplementarily applied as needed.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Both apparatus and method inventions are mentioned in this specification and descriptions of both of the apparatus and method inventions may be complementarily applicable to each other.

Various embodiments have been described in the best mode for carrying out the invention.

The embodiments of the present invention are available in a series of broadcast signal provision fields.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A broadcast signal transmission method comprising: encoding service data of a service and service layer signaling information that are delivered over a Real-Time Object Delivery over Unidirectional Transport (ROUTE) session, wherein the service layer signaling information includes Layered Coding Transport (LCT) channel information and Media Presentation Description (MPD) information for the service; encoding signaling information for one or more services including the service, wherein the signaling information includes one or more service element entries corresponding to the one or more services, wherein a service element entry corresponding to the service includes service information related to the service, and wherein the service information includes service identification information for identifying the service, first version information for indicating a change of the service information, channel information of the service and address information of the ROUTE session; and transmitting the encoded service data, the encoded service layer signaling information and the encoded signaling information.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein a value of the version information is incremented by 1 in response to the service information that is changed.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the signaling information further includes second version information for indicating a change of any information in the one or more service element entries.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the service information further includes service category information for indicating a category of the service.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the LCT channel information includes a transport session identifier for identifying each transport session.
 6. A broadcast signal transmission device comprising: a first encoder configured to encode service data of a service and service layer signaling information that are delivered over a Real-Time Object Delivery over Unidirectional Transport (ROUTE) session, wherein the service layer signaling information includes Layered Coding Transport (LCT) channel information and Media Presentation Description (MPD) information; a second encoder configured to encode signaling information for one or more services including the service, wherein the signaling information includes one or more service element entries corresponding to the one or more services, wherein a service element entry corresponding to the service includes service information related to the service, and wherein the service information includes service identification information for identifying the service, first version information for indicating a change of the service information, channel information of the service and address information of the ROUTE session; and a transmitter configured to transmit a broadcast signal having the encoded service data, the encoded service layer signaling information and the encoded signaling information.
 7. The broadcast signal transmission device of claim 6, wherein a value of the version information is incremented by 1 in response to the service information that is changed.
 8. The broadcast signal transmission device of claim 6, wherein the signaling information further includes second version information for indicating a change of any information in the one or more service element entries.
 9. The broadcast signal transmission device of claim 6, wherein the service information further includes service category information for indicating a category of the service.
 10. The broadcast signal transmission device of claim 6, wherein the LCT channel information includes a transport session identifier for identifying each transport session.
 11. A broadcast signal reception method comprising: receiving a broadcast signal having service data of a service, service layer signaling information and signaling information for one or more services including the service, wherein the service data and the service layer signaling information are delivered over a Real-Time Object Delivery over Unidirectional Transport (ROUTE) session, wherein the signaling information includes one or more service element entries corresponding to the one or more services, wherein a service element entry corresponding to the service includes service information related to the service, wherein the service information includes service identification information for identifying the service, first version information for indicating a change of the service information, channel information of the service and address information of the ROUTE session, and wherein the service layer signaling information includes Layered Coding Transport (LCT) channel information and Media Presentation Description (MPD) information for the service; and processing the service data based on the signaling information and the service layer signaling information.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein a value of the version information is incremented by 1 in response to the service information that is changed.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the signaling information further includes second version information for indicating a change of any information in the one or more service element entries.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the service information further includes service category information for indicating a category of the service.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the LCT channel information includes a transport session identifier for identifying each transport session.
 16. A broadcast signal reception device comprising: a receiver configured to receive a broadcast signal having service data of a service, service layer signaling information and signaling information for one or more services including the service, wherein the service data and the service layer signaling information are delivered over a Real-Time Object Delivery over Unidirectional Transport (ROUTE) session, wherein the signaling information includes one or more service element entries corresponding to the one or more services, wherein a service element entry corresponding to the service includes service information related to the service, wherein the service information includes service identification information for identifying the service, first version information for indicating a change of the service information, channel information of the service and address information of the ROUTE session delivering the service data and the service layer signaling information, and wherein the service layer signaling information includes Layered Coding Transport (LCT) channel information and Media Presentation Description (MPD) information for the service; and a processor configured to process the service data based on the signaling information and the service layer signaling information.
 17. The broadcast signal reception device of claim 16, wherein a value of the version information is incremented by 1 in response to the service information that is changed.
 18. The broadcast signal reception device of claim 16, wherein the signaling information further includes second version information for indicating a change of any information in the one or more service element entries.
 19. The broadcast signal reception device of claim 16, wherein the service information further includes service category information for indicating a category of the service.
 20. The broadcast signal reception device of claim 16, wherein the LCT channel information includes a transport session identifier for identifying each transport session. 